From Evie Gottbreht Pilkington (65):

Hi Gary,

I loved seeing the picture of Fern Berube, Angela’s Mom, I remember her as a wonderful lady and I know she still lives close to Angela.

I also really enjoyed the Edward Berube family picture, the wonderful guy in the back on the far right is Dave Kelly, Sharron Berube (his wife) in front of him and I think their daughter Tanya or Bryanna…..I haven’t seen Sharron in years but Dave died during a simple surgery in September of 1973….he was so young and so loved by many.  My husband Jerry and I went to the funeral, they lived in Simi Valley about 2 hours from our home in Irvine and I remember the church was standing room only.   Dave was a “best friend” to everyone that knew him…..I will never forget him.  I met Dave through Marge Metcalfe and Cecile Berube on a visit to Minneapolis the fall of 65….He had a LAVENDER convertible, that he let me drive during my visit….gotta love the 60’s!!!!!  Makes me think of Ron Griener’s pink Dodge!

Hey class of ’65 I am missing your comments……

Evie Gottbreht

Carolee Casavant Halvorson (75): 

Gary,

All of the Edward Berbue family grew up north of Rolette. Most, if not all the kids attended Rolette School. Front Row L to R : Gary (Bismarck), Perry, Back L to R: Brian (Bismarck) Brenda Lenertz (Bismarck) Edward, and Eldon. Eldon passed away in Minot approximately 5 years ago.The rest of the names don’t come to mind right now. I’ll try to jog my memory and send the rest.

Thanks for all you do!!!!!!

Carolee Casavant Halvorson

Thought I’d include a picture of Evie with several of the rest of us from the class of 65. Gary
L To R: Angela Berube, Evie Gottberht, Gary Stokes, Bill Grimme
Standing  in back:  Allen Richard & his daughter Alaina.  Sitting in Back: Bob Lykins

Fern Berube family on Ferns 90th Birthday – 2/10/07
L to R Standing: Angela, Rachael, Muzette & Robert.
Sitting: Fern

Edward Berube Family 6/28/70
Front L To R: Gary, Perry, ???? and Sharon (Kelly) holding Tanya or Bryanna
Back L To R: Brian, Brenda Edward & Eldon (Deceased) or Dave Kelly (Deceased)

From Linda Johnson Juntunen (72): 

Gary,

 I see that many folks have made comments and sent photos of the tornados that tore through the area on Monday afternoon.  It is sad to see the destruction, but we count our blessings here in Rolla that things are not worse than what they are!  I have had the opportunity to work with the families here in Rolla that have been affected and the volunteers that have been helping with clean-up.  Clearing and cleaning began right away on Monday afternoon, followed by two very busy days Tuesday and Wednesday.  There were people working on clean-up Thursday but not quite the flurry of the previous days.  There is a coulee just to the East of the damage area that if filled with debris and personal items from the damaged homes that will be cleaned on Saturday morning.  The Chief of Police of Rolla, Tom Allard, in conjunction with the Rolla Fire Fighters and City crew are trying to muster 100 to 150 volunteers to work on Saturday to clear this coulee area.  All volunteers are asked to sign in at Our Savior’s LutheranChurch in Rolla, bring a pair of gloves and dress appropriately (there are a lot of thistles).  Water, Gatorade, lunches and a small first aid kit will be provided.  Please if you have an hour or a day to spare, a hand to lend, a 4-wheeler or other equipment that might be offered, if you can deliver lunches or water to the clean up teams, please, please, come and lend a hand.  Thank you so much for any help that you may be able to provide.  If you find that you are unable to come yourself, just take a few minutes to relay the message, maybe someone will hear the call and come and pitch in!

Linda J. Juntunen
COO
Microlap Technologies, Inc.

From Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Note: The Wally Neola refers to in her letter is her husband.

Hi Gary,

Again, it’s a small world.  Rose Kavli, daughter of Bernhard and Betty (page 194, Bottineau County Centennial Book)was married to Roger Gust (Son of Raymond/Violet Kuebler Gust), Wally’s cousin, and my fourth grade student in Kramer in 1961/1962. Roger/Rose were later divorced.  Roger/Rose had a son together: Russell.  Russell and his cousin, Robyn Gust, both work for Trinity in the Sports Medicine department.  Both of them have been in TV news segments about sports medicine on the Minot channels.

Another “small world” tidbit: Elvin and Madeleine Debertin Kavli’s (page 573, Centennial book) daughter, Rebecca, was in Wally’s class when he taught 7th/8th grade in Bottineau years ago.  Rebecca is the daughter who passed away at an early age.  She was married to Roger Hahn from Gardena when she passed away.  In Roger/Rebecca’s write-up (page 562, Centennial Book), it states Rebecca had been married before.   Roger is now married to Char, a relative of Jenny Handeland’s from Dunseith.  Elvin and Madeleine’s son, Robert, was in my Sunday School class when he was “little”.  As far as I know, Madeleine still lives at Edgewood Vista, an assisted living facility in Minot. That was about three years ago, so she might have moved since then.

One of the Kavli sisters, Clarice, married Ted Vinje, a barber in Bottineau (Centennial Book, page 630).  Clarice worked (nurse, I think) at St. Andrew’s Hospital in Bottineau for MANY, MANY years. She still lives, by herself, in her house (beside the railroad tracks) in Bottineau.  Ted died many years ago.

Use as much/as little/none of what I have written, Gary.  You know me, I get “carried away” when I start on family connections. 

Like everyone else, I enjoy receiving your emails, Gary.  Thanks!

Neola

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

My aunt ‘Snookie’ asked if my folks knew of all our antics as kids. She
hit it on the head when she said Dad would probably laugh and Mom was
more serious. There was no fooling Dad about anything! He had done it
all himself and knew pretty much everything that we were up to! I could
tell Mom some ‘vague’ explanations and she usually bought it, but Dad
just looked at me and shook his head! Once when I was at the Standard
station, then owned by Darrel Getzlaff, he came out to put a couple
dollars worth of gas in my 58 Chevy, and asked what had happened to my
car? I asked him what he meant by that? He said he heard that the old
348 engine was about shot and couldn’t even spin the tires anymore! I
said, ” Is that a fact”?!! I was facing north at the pumps and pulled
ahead just enough to clear his bell hose, and put the pedal to the floor
and made a U turn out onto Main, heading south, with white smoke so
thick you could hardly see Darrel by the pumps! I looked back at him and
could see he was giggling like he just pulled something? When I turned
back to look down Main street, right on the sidewalk in front of the AC
Bar, stood my Dad talking to Orlan Fuchs!! A SETUP! I dropped off my
friends and went home and parked the old Chevy by the side of the garage
and just went in to take the heat! When Dad walked through the door, I
handed him my keys, which he threw in the back of the cupboard, and
walked to the next room without saying a word! It was about two weeks or
more, and one day my keys were on the kitchen table! His other method of
discipline was to get me up even earlier than usual, if I had stayed out
partying too long, and head for the farm. I remember waiting for the
Crystal Cafe to open at 6 AM, so we could have a pancake. We had two
tractors and usually were in the same field so there was no sleeping in
the shade or taking a break, just stay out there in the sun and take it
like a man! I wanted to puke or cry, or both sometimes, but still never
learned to come home earlier. We would go into the old farmhouse for
dinner, which was ALWAYS hamburgers on bread, fried in an old steel
frying pan! He would say, ‘ “Aren’t you hungry again”? Oh man, the smell
alone was almost enough! Anyway, by dark I felt so much better I would
forget! He sure had a cool way of getting his point across, usually
without saying much! Thanks Gary!

Dick

Picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Hi Gary,

“Fern Berube” is written on the back of the picture.  If she’s Jim’s mother/relative, I can deliver this picture and picture of Edward Berube family to Jim at the bar, or to Linda at the college.

Neola

Neola, this is a great picture of Fern. All four of Fern’s children and many other relatives of hers are on our distribution list.  Gary

                                    Fern Cote Berube

Picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Folks, I’m assuming the Edward Berube family is related to the Fortune and Lawrence Berube families from Dunseith?

Can anyone identify the folks in this picture? Gary

Message (151): My reply to Dick Johnson.  Gary

Dick, I remember that day (JFK’s Assassination) very well.  I was in Mr. Lykins Typing class that was located in the Gym of the new High School.  Mr. Lykins is the one the broke the news to us.  He was very emotional, to the point of tears, when he was giving us the news.

Mr. Lykins, I am sure you remember this day well. Gary

Mr Lykins’  Reply:  bbplykins@aol.com

Gary and All,

Indeed I do remember that day in November when President Kennedy was shot.  Mr. Corbin told me he had been shot and later in the day, when teaching typing in the temporary room in the gymn, an old construction worker, with tears in his eyes, told me the President had died.  That’s when I told the class and, yes, I was very emotional.  My generation loved the Kennedys and the President was everything we had hoped for. He was strong and resolute.  He had a vision of greatness for our nation that he was able to articulate so well not only to we Americans but also to people in the rest of the world.  To this day I have a stack of magazines and newspapers following his assasination and funeral.  It was one of those days that you never forget where you were or what you were doing in those moments.

Bob Lykins

Reply from Vickie Metcalfe (70): 

Note: The Dunseith book has the spelling as Kavlie and the Bottineau book the spelling as both Kavlie and Kavli.

Gary & Keith,

Yes, I’m wrong on spelling.

Thanks for the correction!

I believe,there were a number of Kavli’s siblings in the Bottineau and Rolette County area.

One of  Robertson’s of Bottineau told me, grandmother Robertson, was also a sister to Leonard.

When they retired from farming.  Leonard and Dot sold their farm at Little Prairie to John and Helen Gunville.

It was later sold to Earl Gustafson.  My brother,  Archie and family rented the house and farmstead for a couple years from Earl.

While Archie and Sally lived there, one summer day, the Kavli girls, with  Roselle (Kavli) Tooke, ( daughter of Duane and Phylis of Rolette,  the wife of Chip Tooke is a grandaughter  came up and roamed around the farm.   That’s also,  when my mom told me about working for the Kavli’s when she was a teen.  Nuff said Vickie

Rod Hiatt’s (69) reply to Keith Pladson (66): 

It is coincidence that the Kavlies were mentioned, as we are now planning our 40th class reunion in 2009 and 2 of the Kavlie girls were in my class.Bernard Kavlie lived north of 43 and his kids went to Bottineau School. The oldest daughter, Helen, was up at a Stallion Auction a few years ago that was held at the fairgrounds in Bottineau. I am not sure where she said she lived, but I thought it was around Harvey area. The next daughter, Rose, graduated with me in 69 and lives in the Harvey-Anamoose area. They have a brother by the name of McCarl.The trucker from Bottineau was Alvin Kavlie and his daughter, Christy, also graduated with me and lives in Texas. Alvin has a son Bob, who the last time I heard was out in the Denver area. They also had an older sister who passed away sometime ago. Elwood and Stubby Fauske now live where the Kavlies had built just east of the fairgrounds in Bottineau.

Paula Fassett Pfuhl’ (71) reply to Rod Hiatt (69): 

Rod Hiatt, I have been called a lot of things over the years, but you are the only person in the entire world who ever called me Paula Waula………I remember walking up to Ernie Amundson’s auction sale in Dunseith years ago.  You and your dad were the auctioneers – you had the mike at that particular moment and were in the middle of your auction-lingo – sorry, what’s the correct term for it – anyway, I waved to you and right in the middle of your schpeel you said Hi Paula Waula and kept right on auctioneering.  I don’t think anyone else even knew you threw a hello into the middle of it.  THAT is talent!!!.

I actually do remember the howling dog comment and yes,  it was meant in fun.  All of us (the girls, anyway) were always quite impressed with your rendition of The Auctioneer Song.  I remember several of us “dragging” you up onto the stage at the Boissevain Inn to sing it – but I don’t think we had to do soo much persuading to get you up there.  Those were fun days.

Paula

From Shirley Olson Warcup (49): 

Rod Hiatt, Dick, and Gary,

Rod–I thoroughly enjoyed your message.  If there’s another writer’s strike in Hollywood, give them a call!! They could use someone like you.     I have looked through the centennial book and found lots of Hiatts–some who are my relatives.  Which Hiatt family do you belong to?  I am related to the Walter Hiatt family–Julia and my mother were sisters.  I knew many of the other Hiatts and just wondered who your parents are–I undoubtedly know them.

Hope to hear more of your Dunseith experiences!!!

Dick,
I enjoy your stories–just one question–did your folks know about all these fun times?  Your Dad would probably have a good laugh but I”m not so sure about your Mom.  She was always more circumspect and serious than I was.

Gary,   Once again, thanks for doing what you’re doing!!

Shirley Olson Warcup

Bev Morinville Azure’s (72) Reply to Rod Hiatt (69): 

From Diane Berg Rheault (79): 

I would like to “ditto” Bill Krause’s email to Tim, Laurie and family.  Well written, Bill!!!!

Tim, I will keep you all in my prayers, and wish for a speedy recovery!!  Take care!
From Bobbie Slyter (70): 

From Rod Hiatt (69): 

Good morning Dunseith,

A while back there was mention on different people that are either in a
musical group or played in one or even back in the good old days when we
all went to Canada to party, as some of us would get up and sing with
the bands.
Well back in the mid 70′s I was also in a country band. We played alot
of the local bars from Mohall to Knox to Kelvin Klinic and some wedding
dances and private parties. We  weren’t really very good so we changed
our name about once a month so that we could get people to come, as they
were thinking it was a new band in the area. The bar owners always liked
us, as it seemed the more you drank the better we sounded. I think it
was Paula Waula Fassett who asked me one night at Kelvin if she could
bring her dog up there to howl with the music. Not sure if she meant
that or not, but I never wanted to ask as I didn’t want to know the
truth. When I got married in the fall of 1975, I decided that being gone
every weekend was not the way to start out a new marriage, so I gave up
the music business. Others said that I quit because my new bride was
embarrassed to go out in public. There again I’m not asking as I really
don’t want to hear the truth. We use to getting em rockin with the
Auctioneer Song and Wabash Cannonball, but I guess to make it big in
Nashville or  even Dunseith you need more than 2 songs in  a 4 hour  gig.

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

There was a barber in Dunseith by the name of Hank Johnson. We called
him ‘Hank the Barber’, and he had a shop two doors south of the Althea
theater. This is not the Hank Johnson from Willow Lake, but another guy.
Anyway, for years he drove an old 1950 Nash four door car that resembled
an inverted bathtub! It was dark green and ugly, real ugly. In those
days Nash thought it was cool to be able to lay the front seat down and
make the car into a bed, maybe for camping, who knows! Hank decided to
sell his  old Nash and buy a newer car so Marvin Kalk went down and
bought it for $25, if I remember right. It didn’t like to start real
well but he seemed to get it going most of the time, one way or another!
One night a bunch of us were cruising town in  Marvin’s Nash and we
noticed he had a stick holding the rear of the driver’s seat up! Someone
asked what it was for and Marvin said the latch was broken so the seat
fell back to the bed position. He dropped us off  by Fortune Berube’s
house and we were standing by the car talking to Marvin, who was still
in his car. Bill Berube had tied a rope to the stick that was holding
the seat up and had secretly dropped it out the rear window. We asked
Marvin if he could make the old Nash burn rubber? He revved it up and
dropped the clutch and sure enough it  squealed the tires and took off
to the east! Billy gave the rope a pull and poor Marvin fell over
backward in the seat and lost his grip on the steering wheel! The car
veered to the left and jumped the curb, heading for Knute Landsverk’s
garage! Marvin sat back up just in time to turn the wheel and miss the
garage, but instead of hitting the brakes he just kept going and drove
clear across the vacant lot south of Landsverk’s and then bounced back
over that curb and drove off like nothing happened! We went from being
scared to laughing hysterically in just a few seconds! I remember
thinking, if he would have hit that garage we would have all been in BIG
trouble! But we pulled off another one! Thanks Gary!

Dick

THE MINOT DAILY NEWS

Rolla, Belcourt residents cleaning up, putting their lives back together

By ELOISE OGDEN, Regional Editor, eogden@minotdailynews.com

POSTED: July 9, 2008

Eloise Ogden/MDN –
Sheri Leas, right, and her son Logan Leas, 11, stand in front of what’s left of their house in northeast Rolla Tuesday after a tornado struck the area the day before.

FACT BOX

Red Cross accepting donations

The Red Cross is accepting donations to help with the disaster in the Rolla and Belcourt areas. For more information, people can call 1-800-323-3179.

People who would like to volunteer their time to help in Rolla with clean up and others ways can call Rolla City Hall at 477-3610, then extension 10. Volunteers need to sign in at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Rolla.

People who would like to volunteer to help with the clean up and other needs in Belcourt can call the emergency services office at 477-2674 or 477-2693.

Rolla recovers

ROLLA AND BELCOURT Sheri Leas said she really didn’t know where to begin, as she picked up pieces Tuesday of her home in Rolla that a tornado hit and demolished the day before, scattering much of it about the area.

On Tuesday, Leas, along with others in Rolla and the Belcourt area whose homes were destroyed or damaged, were trying to clean up the debris and save what they could from their homes.

“It’s quite the devastation,” she said.

Leas said they weren’t home when the tornado hit. They’re living at another place now “and cleaning up,” she said.

Tom Allard, Rolla chief of police, said Tuesday that six to eight homes in Rolla were destroyed and 20 homes were damaged. Allard was the first emergency person who arrived at the scene of the damage in that community Tuesday afternoon.

At Belcourt on the Turtle Mountain Reservation, about 19 structures were affected, said David “Doc” Brien, chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. That number was a preliminary assessment, and tribal officials were continuing their assessment of the area Tuesday.

Gov. John Hoeven and several other state officials visited the Rolla and Belcourt areas Tuesday to view the damage. During a news conference in the Rolette County Courthouse in Rolla Tuesday morning, Hoeven extended his sympathy and concern to those who have been impacted by the tornados.

The 19 structures in the Belcourt area included Martin Peltier’s home northeast of Belcourt, which was considered a total loss. The tornado’s force moved his home off the foundation. Peltier was trapped in the basement, rescued and then flown to Trinity Hospital in Minot where tribal officials said, to their knowledge, he’s in stable condition.

Another injury as a result of the storm was a firefighter in Rolla who sustained minor injuries when his vehicle was struck by a tornado when he was observing the storm approaching the city.

Brien said 18 people on the reservation were affected by the tornado’s damage and rooms were provided for them Monday night at the casino at Belcourt.

“To our knowledge there might have been three tornados that folks saw,” Brien said, referring to the west side of the reservation between Belcourt and Dunseith, although the number hasn’t been officially confirmed.

Brien told the group attending the news conference in Rolla that a grandmother with several grandchildren and a mom saw a tornado coming, went inside their mobile home and hid in the bathtub. “That’s actually the wrong thing to do,” he said. He said people die from being in mobile homes and cars. He said the tribe needs to work on warning people of approaching storms and also make sure people get the right advice on where to go and what to do.

He said that family’s mobile home was lifted up. The grandmother said it was “just like her guardian angel said, ‘no, you’re not taking that trailer’ and pushed it back down. We’re very grateful that family was not injured,” Brien said.

Anita Blue of tribal Emergency Management in Belcourt said all the homes that were destroyed or damaged on the reservation belong to people who are poverty stricken and have no insurance. She said officials were working on getting help for them.

Shaiyan Davis of Belcourt was at the Anishinabe Learning, Cultural & Wellness Center north of Belcourt, attending a cultural camp there when a tornado hit Monday afternoon. She said about 20 kids, 20 mentors and 10 more adults were there at the time. “It just came out of nowhere,” she said. She said it had been sunny but then got really dark. She said the noise was like big gusts of wind and then complete silence. Davis took cover with others in the main building. A straw-insulated building on the property was damaged.

Hoeven and other officials Tuesday commended all the emergency responders for their coordination and short-notice actions Monday afternoon.

Agencies including Red Cross officials from Minot and Bismarck were on the scene to help with the work, along with other people.

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Rolla has been set up as a relief facility. Erma Mickelson said the American Legion Auxiliary is using the church as a site to serve food. The auxiliary had served supper Monday night and was serving meals Tuesday to those whose homes were destroyed, she said.

As the cleanup gets under way in both communities, Adam Hamm, North Dakota Insurance commissioner, said people need to take steps to prevent further damage, to take photographs or videotape of their property and save all receipts of work, which will help to expedite insurance claims.

Pictures From Bev Morniville Azure (82): 

Gary, Here are someof the pic’s I took in Rolla from the Torando. U can share with the site if u would like to. Bev

Obituary – Wanda Poitra (77)

April 21, 1958-July 4, 2008

DUNSEITH Wanda Poitra, 50, Dunseith, died Friday, July 4, 2008, in a Rugby hospital.

She was born April 21, 1958, to Roy and Rose Ann Poitra in Belcourt.

Survivors: daughter, Bobbie Jo Poitra, Bismarck; sons, Fabian Poitra and Michael Poitra, both Dunseith; stepsons, Ryan Vettleson, Bismarck, Anthony Vettelson, Fargo; stepdaughter, Alesha Poitra, Grand Forks; three grandchildren; sisters, Diane Lenion, Belcourt, Roberta Nadeau and Barbara Demery, both of Dunseith, Ruby Morin, Spokane, Wash.; brothers, Thomas, Rodney and William, all of Dunseith.

Funeral: Thursday, 10 a.m., St. Michael The Arch Angel Catholic Church, Dunseith.

Burial: St. Louis Cemetery, Dunseith.

Prayer service: Wednesday, 7 p.m., in the church.

Wake: Wednesday, 4 p.m., in the church. (Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau)

From Bill Krause (74): 

Tim,Laurie and Family..Tim I am wishing you all my best in a full and speedy recovery.I know half the battle is over, but with time I know you will complete the other half of this long journey..I can only begin to imagine the weight that has been lifted off the shoulders of everyone in your family, knowing you have been given this gift of life. Take care my Friend, and may God Bless You, and Your Family. Bill Krause

From Martha Lamb Schepp (68):  

We are happy to hear of Tim’s transplants. We see Tim and Laurie frequently in Minot, we were really concerned for Tim and his family. Patience is the key.

Richard we must have missed a days e-mail since I didn’t realize you were having health problems. From the e-mails I gather that you had a heart attack. Good to hear you are doing well.

To those who were classmates of my brother, Dean. My husband Lynn, our two sons Kyle and Kevin and myself will fly out on Friday morning for Dean’s son Lauren’s wedding which will be on Saturday in Wetherford, Texas. Lauren is a veternarian in residency in Oklahoma and his to be wife, Jodie, is also a veternarian starting a residency in Texas. They will be living about 3 hrs. apart for a year. She was in New Jersey last year.

I don’t write often but enjoy the site everyday.

Thanks, Gary,

Martha

From Dave Slyter (70):

Margaret Leonard:
Those new titles are hilarious.  Thanks for sharing and making my day.

To Diane Berg Rheault:
Lets have lunch someday.  I work at NDSU and am close to 19th Ave.   Grand Junction has a great noon luncheon.  My wife Pat and I live in Sabin, Mn.  Just south of Moorhead.    Good to hear from you.

Dave  Slyter : )

From Bobbie Slyter (70): 

My thought and prayers go out to the tim hill family and for a speedy recovery, god does answer prayers GOOD LUCK TIM GO GET EM

From Shirley Olson Warcup (49): 

For Margaret Metcalfe Leonard

You made my day!! That’s the best laugh I’ve had for a long time.  I’m a living example of 75% of those.  I called Pat Sunderland Warburton and we laughed together!!

Shirley Warcup

From Diane Larson Sjol (70): 

This message is for the Morinville girls….I have great memories of
your dad. He was always making jokes and telling stories….the
article is great. Debbie you look just like him!  Susan thanks for
sharing.
Diane Larson Sjol

From Evon Lagerquist (77): 

Here are some Tornado pictures from Rolla

http://rolla.nd.utma.com/rolla_tornado_pictures.htm

The Minot Daily News

July 8, 2008

ROLLA – A series of tornadoes skipped across Rolette County Monday afternoon causing property damage and at least two injuries.

According to a press release from the Rolette County Sheriff’s Department, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning in northern Rolette County at 2:30 p.m. Initial indications were that a tornado touched down at the International Peace Garden on the Canadian side.

The storm then moved southeast to Belcourt, where a tornado or tornadoes skirted around the northern edge of the town shortly after 3 p.m. Dr. Richard Larson, medical director of the ambulance service at Quentin N. Burdick Memorial Health in Belcourt, said a tornado was one-half to one mile to the north of town when it moved by the hospital.

“Our employees stepped out of the hospital and shot pictures with their cell phones,” Larson said.

There is no count on exactly how many tornadoes might have touched down, but Larson stated one of the nurses at the hospital saw up to four tornadoes, with two of them dropping down side-by-side at the same time near her house.

Although Belcourt was spared the brunt of the storm’s power, Larson said a house northeast of Belcourt was demolished and a man seeking shelter in the basement was seriously injured, while a puppy at the house was killed. Larson said the man was injured by a falling wall of bricks. The man, whose identity is not being released at this time, was transported to the Belcourt hospital and then air-lifted to Trinity Hospital in Minot.

Larson said that was the only tornado-related injury the hospital treated. While he didn’t know what tornado-related injuries other hospitals might have treated, he did say no other agencies asked for help from the hospital’s EMS service.

The storm then moved east to Rolla, which wasn’t as fortunate as Belcourt. The sheriff’s department reported a tornado touched down on the northwest side of Rolla at approximately 3:15 p.m. and then continued east, causing damage to residential and commercial structures on the north side of town.

According to a press release from Gov. John Hoeven, the tornado affected a roughly three-block area, and Rolette County acting emergency manager Eldon Moors reported that four homes were destroyed and eight were damaged. Otter Tail Power Cooperative also turned off power to the area to ensure safety. The press release said preliminary reports from Belcourt indicate at least one home was heavily damaged while several others suffered lesser damage.

While there were no serious injuries reported in Rolla, a city firefighter did sustain minor injuries when his vehicle was struck by a tornado as he was observing the storm approach the city.

For those displaced from their homes in Rolla by the storm, the American Red Cross provided relief at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

“We extend our sympathy to those who were injured and to the families whose homes were destroyed or damaged,” Hoeven said in the statement. “I’ve asked the Department of Emergency Services to respond with any state resources the communities feel are necessary to help in the aftermath of this destructive storm.”

Hoeven will meet with local officials in Rolla today at 8 a.m. A news conference will then be held at the Rolette County Courthouse at 9 a.m. Hoeven will also be in Belcourt to meet with Doc Brien, tribal chairman, at 10:30 a.m. at the Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters.

Sherie and Randy Zupan, who live about two miles southwest of Belcourt, were at a store in Rolla when the tornadoes touched down.

“My husband yelled at me to come out and look at this,” Sherie Zupan said.

Randy Zupan wanted to get a better look, so the two jumped into their vehicle and drove to the C-Store.

“Like a crazy person, we stayed out and took pictures on our phone,” Sherie Zupan said. “It was pretty devastating.”

The Zupans reported seeing three or four tornadoes touch down, and also saw two touch down at the same time. After the storm moved away, they drove around the city to see the damage. The Zupans said there were several houses destroyed about a mile south of Rolla’s airport, which is north of the city.

“When we went out to look at it, there were roofs off, shingles, trees pulled right out, the roots and all,” she said.

They then left Rolla as rescue efforts intensified and drove north to St. John. They saw the wreckage of a red four-door truck that had been thrown into a telephone pole. They also discovered the straw-insulated building at the Anishinabe Learning, Cultural & Wellness Center a few miles north of Belcourt had one side of the roof pulled off. A family that lived in the area had their house damaged and their pontoon was sitting in a tree.

“It was a pretty good-sized pontoon, so it was a pretty strong tornado,” Sherie Zupan said.

Zupan says she’s seen tornadoes before, but this is the first time she’s experienced their power first hand.

“I’ve seen tornadoes, never this close,” she said. “I never want to go through this again. It was pretty scary.”

Click in the sight below and plug in your ZIP code to find the lowest price gas in your area.  Today, gas in Bottineau is $4.14 per Gal.  It’s $4.24 in Souris.

http://www.gasbuddy.com/

From Evon Lagerquist (77): 

Hi Gary,

The class of 1977 lost another classmate. Wanda Poitra passed away on Friday, the 4th. She had been in the Rugby hospital for the past few days before her passing. Her funsral will be Thursday, the 10th.

From Phyllis McKay (65): 

Gary,

I called the district for advice about this problem. They were not very helpful being it was a personal message and not work related. I am at school now and when I open the e-mails from you, I can get the pictures and the format of the e-mails seems to be different too. I am going to be leaving for England next week and will be gone until the end of July. The first of August, I will be going on a cruise out of Florida to the Caribbean with my sisters, Patsy and Minnie Mary.

I am so glad to hear about Tim’s recovery. I know it’s been a long road with many scary bends and turns for Tim. We are so fortunate to have gifted surgeons that are able to perform this life saving procedures. Joe Link had open heart surgery to replace a damaged valve. It was a life saving procedure that gave him many years of a healthy life. He did not die of heart problems but of an aneurism in the brain.

It is good news about Richard, too. The power of prayer cannot be under estimated.

Phyllis

From Debbie Poitra Rondeau (77): 

Good Morning Gary

My prayers go out Tim, Laurie and Family. Hope you have a speedy recovery Tim.

And to Bonnie Await Houle. Betty Counts Poitra is my mother, she lives up North of Dunseith, she retired a year ago, and is going crazy sitting at home now. She would love to hear from you. She remembers you going down and visiting her in Minn. Her phone # is 701-244-0213 and Address is PO Box 36 Dunseith.

Debbie Poitra Rondeau

Debbie, There are two Betty Poitra’s in Dunseith. I beleive you mother is the one I talked to, several times, putting DHS class lists together.  She was such a nice lady to talk to.  Gary

From Sharon Longie Dana (73):

For Laurie, Tim, Joanne and Families, So glad to Hear Tim is doing well. Sending many good thoughts and prayers your way.

Richard Slyter, glad to hear your home and recuperating!!!!!

Sharon Longie Dana(73)

From Dave Slyter (70): 

Tim and Laurie:

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.  We do know that you are in very good hands.

Dave Slyter

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Thanks Bonnie for the dates on your photos. I knew it was before 1956,
because our lake cabin left town, for Lake Metigoshe, in 1956 and is
still in our yard on the picture. Lloyd was in the war [WWII] so must
have just had his uniform on for the picture, unless he was in for more
than four years. Do you know, Bonnie? Doesn’t really matter, just always
curious, I guess!
In answer to your question about if Tim was the son of John and Murl
Hill, in U of M back in the early 60s, yes he had his first open heart
surgery in about 1961. He had another in about 1974 and just a month or
so later they had to go back in and repair a problem. So this is his
fourth and hopefully last time to endure this trauma! He was my best man
when we got married and  before that we stayed together in Grand Forks
for a year. He has been my buddy for all these years through thick and
thin! I can remember his love of old cars is as deep as mine and goes
back to when we were kids! Tim has a 1937 Ford hot rod that is partially
finished and he has been unable to finish it because of his health. He
couldn’t weld because he had a pacemaker device that would react to a
welder. Now in a few months we’re gonna ‘git ‘er done! Thanks Garry!

Dick

2nd reply from Dick

Gary and Friends,

I should have payed more attention in Geography class, when they told us
the difference between east and west! I said the pictures were directly
east of Awalt’s house, I meant to say west! Sorry! Lloyd said the
pictures were from 1946 or 1947, so Bonnie was a bit late and so was I!
Thanks Lloyd and Gary!

Dick

Request from Diane Berg Rheault (79): 

Could you add me to your email list.  I am Diane Rheault (Berg).  Don, Curt & Keith are my brothers.

Curt forwarded one of your emails to me.  I love it!

Thank you!

Diane Rheault
American Crystal Sugar Company
Technical Services Center

Diane’s reply to Gary:

I graduated from Dunseith in 1979.  My husband, Jim, daughter Jacqueline (8) and I live in Fargo, ND (actually Reiles Acres, ND = on 45th Str. N, 1 mile west of I-29 & between 19th Ave N and Co. Road 20).  I went to college at NDSU Bottineau, and finished at NDSU Fargo, with a B.S. degree in Bacteriology.  I work at American Crystal Sugar at the Technical Services Center in Moorhead, MN.  I’ve been with the Company for 20 years (as of March 2008).

Our parents live in Rugby, ND, and we were all home over the 4th.

Diane Berg Rheault

From Margaret Metcalfe Leonard (65): 

Gary,

Dot Kavlie was also a first cousin to Odin Medlang father to Obert and Marlys, who were also from the Little Prairie community.  Marlys was very fond of Dot and Leonard as family and neighbors. My mother, “Lottie”, Charlotte (Lamb) Metcalfe worked for Leonard and Dot as a teenager, she had high regard for the Kavalie family.  Mrs. Victoria (Krogen) Gillis, from here in Bottineau is also a cousin of Leonard Kavalie

Vickie Metcalfe
From Deb Lindstrom Lee, Bottineau HS graduate (68 or 69?).

Folks, I included Deb Lindstrom Lee with yesterday’s message.  Her parents, Elmer & Mildred Lindstrom, were very close friends to Leonard and Dot Kavlie.  Deb’s mother, Mildred and my dad were 1st cousins. Deb’s husband, Kevin, is a brother to Debby Stokes, my brother Darrel’s wife.  I am sure a lot of you Bottineau folks remember Kevin and Deb.

Deb has identified the Kavlie family below.  Thank you Deb.

Gary

Left to right on the Leonard Kavlie family:  Leonard, Curtis, Duane, Jerry(adopted), Hampton

I believe this is correct.  I don’t know anything about the Jerry’s adoption.

Deb

L to R: Leonard, Curtis, Dot, Duane, Jerry(adopted) & Hampton Kavlie

From Richard Slyter (56): 

From Kathy Casavant Ellingson (74):

Reply from Joanne Hill Evans (74): 

Gary,

Yes ~ I apologize for leaving that out.  We are just so excited about the wonderfully news with his heart, as we have been dealing with that for so long.  Tim did receive a kidney, also, from the same donor.  They did not remove his kidneys, they simply place the new kidney on the lower left side of his abdomen.

Today (Sunday) they had him sitting up in a chair for about a half-hour and he ate his first ‘meal’ ~ some raspberry ice.  He is very aware of all that is going on around him and what is being said. The heart transplant doctor stopped today and said his surgery went exactly as they wanted.  Tim is doing very well and his coloring is better than I have seen in a long time.  Laurie is coping extremely well and is so wonderful for Tim.  Our blessings are many.  Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

Joanne (Hill) Evans

From Doyle Abrahamson (68): 

Tell Tim I hope for a quick and early recovery.

Doyle Abrahamson

From Lynn Halvorson Otto (75): 

Hi Gary, our continued prayers go out to Tim and Laurie for the long road to recovery.  We pray for them and their family.  Also prayers to Richard Slyter for his recovery.  My Mom, Dorothy Halvorson was so pleased to hear of Tim’s surgery success.  She said she has been praying for him for a long time and will continue to do so.

Lynn Halvorson Otto

From Bev Morinville Azure (72): 

YAHOO   I  just got  home  from Grand Forks and  read  the news  about  Tim   I  am  so excited and   thankful  that  things  have  gone  so well. Tim and  Laurie  what a  blessing we  have  all  had this past  year . If you need anything   let  me  me   love you   guys   Bev and  Clarence

From Bonnie Awalt Houle (56):  

Gary,

In answer to Dick Johnson, The pictures of Marshall and Lloyd were taken about 1954-55.  They were taken before I graduated in 1956.

Keith and I were remembering a time when we first moved to Minneapolis.  We received a call from Johnny Hill about a son of his that was ill at the University of Minnesota.  They needed blood and were asking people from N. Dak to come down and donate if they could.  Keith went down and donated blood.  Was it Tim that was sick at that time.  Early 1960′s.

I also remember visiting with Betty Counts Poitra when she was at the University of Minnesota having treatments for Cancer.  Tootie Evenson Dostaler and I went down to see Betty. That was in the early to mid 1960′s.

Bonnie Awalt Houle 1956

From Bev Morinville Azure (72):

From Joanne HIll Evans (74): 

Gary,

This is Joanne (Hill) Evans.  Tim and Laurie have been living with us in Owatonna since the end of May, waiting for the transplant.  We received the call early Friday morning and Tim’s transplant surgery was completed and he was back in ICU at St. Mary’s Hospital by 6:45 Friday evening.  He is doing very well.  He received a young, strong and healthy heart.  Laurie and I were blessed to listen to Tim’s new heart through a stethoscope last night ~ what a miracle!  God has certainly blessed Tim and all our family.

This morning (Saturday – by 9:00 a.m.) they had removed the ventilator tube and Tim was talking.  The nurse was impressed with how well he is doing.  He is responding as expected, and even better.  His color is good, he is alert and is well aware of everything.  The care at St. Mary’s Hospital is tremendous.

We do not yet know how long Tim will be hospitalized.  When he is released, Tim & Laurie will live at the Transplant House in Rochester for approximately 3 months.  I will keep you posted as we proceed.  Laurie & I will be creating a CaringBridge site, hopefully before too long.  Will advise when it is available.

Thank you so much for all your prayers.  This is the happiest Fourth of July I have ever experienced!

God’s blessings to all.

Joanne & Greg Evans

From Susan Malaterre Johnson (69): 

Hi Gary, Thank you to Dick for letting us know about Tim’s updates.  I’m sure that he’s had many prayers today.  Richard is also in manny hearts.  Bless them both and the physicians who work with them.  Dick, My mom used to relate storied that your uncle told us of his time on the titanic. If nothing else, it has provided us with many rich memories of what might have been.  He most certainly was interesting.  Such a diverse group we’ve turned out to be and with you, Gary, still close.  Susan Johnson

Susan, It’s been quite sometime now since I talked to you.  Please update us with your life in Texas.  When I talked to you, you were in the process of purchasing a 2nd home near your daughter.  Do you still have your trucking company?  I know it’s been very traumatic for you with the loss of your husband.  Gary.

From Kathy Schimetz-Wood (72): 

From Bobbie Slyter (70): 

Richard is undergoing some more tests today and if all is o.k., he may get to go home tonight or tomorrow, the doc says he wont be able to work for about a month so pray for Ele having him around the house that long  ha ha just kidding.

From Ele Dietrich Slyter (69): 

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Thanks to Bonnie and Neola for the pictures of our serviceman. I know
the Awalts and Bob Stokes were very proud of their country and of their
time in the service. Lloyd Awalt and Bob Stokes were both very active in
the American Legion in Bottineau.
They led the parades for years on Memorial Day. The pictures of Marshall
and Lloyd were taken in the vacant lot directly east of Awalt’s house on
the east side of town. The house behind the picture of both of them
together, is Ed Leonard’s. In the picture of Marshall alone, our house
is directly behind him and Egbert’s house is to the right. Between the
two you can see the old elevator at Myron Evan’s. True, when these
pictures were taken it wasn’t our house, it was still Arnold and Hattie
Lilleby’s. I would like to venture a guess as to the year of the photos,
about the 1948-1950 range, I think. Is there a date on them, Bonnie? Thanks!

Dick

From Shirley Olson Warcup (49): 

Gary,

That was welcome news about Tim Hill!  Our thoughts and prayers are with Tim and Richard and their families.

Last year we made an unplanned stop at St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck.  I told the ER personnel we were on our way to a school reunion and I hoped I could get things taken care of rather quickly so we could make the reunion.  One of the Drs. on duty that day was a surgeon.

He asked where the reunion was.  I said it was in Dunseith.  He said that’s where he grew up–north of Dunseith.  His name was Gaylord Kavlie.  His father was a minister.  I think he left before he was of high school age.  He came to my hospital room the next day and we spent some time talking about Dunseith and the UND Medical school.  He also gave me more helpful information, healthwise, than I had received from previous doctors.  I haven’t seen a dr. since then.

Again, thanks for getting this newsletter going, Gary.  I look forward to it every day.

Shirley Warcup

Shirley, Gaylord Kavlie’s grand parents would have been Leonard & Dot Kavlie and his father is Hampton Kavlie. The Kavlie’s lived West and south of Little Prairie church up in the hills.  I remember Leonard and Dot well, but their children (boys) were enough older than me that I don’t remember them that well.  I remember Leonard coming to our farm every year to spray the livestock.  I think one of Leonard and Dot’s boys was adopted from one of the Abrahamson’s?  I think that is what I was told.  Someone please correct me if I’m wrong or confirm if I’m right.  All four of the Kavlie sons attended high school at Hillcrest Academy in Fergus Falls, MN. One of Leonard and Dot’s granddaughter’s works in the Bank in Dunseith.  Gary

Note: I don’t know who’s who of the boys in the picture.

Leonard Kavlie Family (Leonard, Dagny, Hampton,
Duane, Curtis & Jerry)

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

I received a phone call this afternoon from Mike Hill, son of Tim and
Laurie, and he said Tim was in surgery at that time getting a new heart
and kidney! Mike said the heart replacement was done and they were
working on the kidney replacement as we were talking. I think all DHS
alumni will be glad to hear that such a deserving guy is soon to be on
the road to recovery! There is a time of  healing of course, but it will
be good to see Tim back to enjoying life again! He is at Mayo in
Rochester, MN so is in good hands! I hope Richard Slyter is also on the
road to recovery, seems like we never know what is next! I’m sure the
Hill family will keep us posted on Tim and Slyters on Richard. Hang in
there guys!

Dick

From Floyd & Carmen (Leonard) Richard:

Yes, that is our wedding picture from the Dunseith Journal taken in 1954 by Dunseith photogarpher Ted Brodak. He took a series of pictures of our wedding and only charged us $10 for all of them.

A few weeks ago there was a picture af the band, and there was trouble identifing one fellow, Jackie Spaeth or Mick Kester. That brought back memories of Jack, he worked for us a couple of summers when he was in high school. After graduating he joined the Marines and was part of the Green Barrets. (There was even a song about the Green Barret) Jack came out to visit us every time he was home on furlough and later when he was out of the service and visiting in the area.He was like part of our family.

Have a great July 4th weekend everyone. We treasure reading all the emails and am so glad that we are on the list !

From Bobbie Slyter (70): 

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers, I am sure Richard will appreciate them.

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Most people remember November 22, 1963. That was the day J.F.K. was
assassinated in Dallas and just about everyone can tell you where they
were when they got the news. We were in school in the old school as the
7-8 grade addition wasn’t finished yet.
We had a little goof off deal we pulled in the afternoon sometimes,
where we checked out of study hall to go to the library but instead used
a coat hanger to get into the small office on the corner just south of,
and around the corner from, the main office. This was Dennis Espe’s
office and he had a class at that time everyday. Art Rude was in the
assembly so no one was around checking! We just sat in there and
listened to the radio and talked. Well, that day John Boguslawski and I
were in there listening to the radio when they interrupted the music
with the news of the shooting! We listened to it for a while and I said
we HAVE to tell Mr. Rude!
John said, “No way—he’ll ask us how we found out and we’re screwed”! I
told him to check back in to studyhall and I would take the chance, as
we have to tell him! I went to the door of the studyhall and when Art
saw me I motioned for him to come to the door. Now in those days you did
not tell a teacher to come out of his class, a kid didn’t anyway! He had
a strange look on his face, but came to the door, where I told him what
I heard. He ran to the main office and set the intercom mic in front of
the radio and we spent the rest of the afternoon listening to the
developments in Texas. I went to my desk and was never asked HOW or
WHERE I got that information! I asked Art just a few years ago if he
knew and he said it never really crossed his mind! I guess it went as
planned!! Thanks Gary!

Dick
Dick, I remember that day very well.  I was in Mr. Lykins Typing class that was located in the Gym of the new High School.  Mr. Lykins is the one the broke the news to us.  He was very emotional, to the point of tears, when he was giving us the news.

Mr. Lykins, I am sure you remember this day well. Gary

From Bonnie Awalt Houle (56): 

Good Morning Gary,

Today is the 4 of July and we are celebrating the Birthday of our Country and also the men and women that have fought for our country.  I would like to say how proud we are of our family members that have fought for the freedom we all enjoy.  Attached are pictures of Marshall and Lloyd Awalt .  Lloyd served in the Navy and Marshall served in the Marines for 30 years.

Bonnie Awalt Houle 1956

                              Marshall Awalt aboard ship

Marshall and Lloyd Awalt – Military

                                  Marshall Awalt – Military

Picture provide by Neoal Kofoid Garbe:  

I think this must be in 1977 When he was the Bottineau Legion Commander.  Gary                                

                        Bob Stokes in his legion uniform

Reply From Darrel Fassett (47): 

What Gary Morgan didn’t tell you about that football team was that they turned into a very good team.  I  followed the progress of the team(via Turtle Mountain Star) and they and Rolla were both pretty good.  Gary was the Dunseith running back and Rolla also had a very good back.  Of course, the Rolla player got all the ink. Since I had worked with both Gary and Dick at the lumber yard I had to come watch the game when the two teams met.  Early in the game the two met whie Gary was carrying the ball and Gary ran right over him.  After that it was a rout.  I don’t remember the score but it was large in favor of Dunseith.  I bet Gary remembers the score.  At that time there was an intense Rolla-Dunseith rivalry( maybe still is) so that made it even better. Gary was too modest to tell you that they became a very good football team.

From Gary Morgan (54): 

Gary & All,

Thinking back to my freshman and sophomore years in high school….we never had cars to cruise like you younger people.  Mostly, we would hang out in the bowling alley or wander down to the Crystal Cafe.  Some of the older guys might go to the pool hall.
Once in a great while, Donnie Hiatt would get his dad’s pickup.  He would pick up Jerry Williams and myself and sometimes Jimmie Footit and with the three or four of us jammed in the pickup, it would be off to Bottineau to pick up girls.  Those Bottineau girls were really a bunch of snobs.  There might be three or four of them walking down the sidewalk and we would pull over to the curb and throw them the only pick up line we knew..”Do ya want a ride?”.  They never did and only once did one actually flee, but that was probably because she was alone.  It could be thirty below and they still wouldn’t get in.
Looking back now, I can’t help but wonder if the stock rack with the cow crap up and down the sides might not have been a disadvantage.  I think it may have somehow intimidated them.

Gary Morgan

From the Turtle Mountain Star archives

This shoud bring back a few memories for some of you folks.

A lot of the rest of you are related to or knew of these folks.  Gary

  February 15, 1940

7/3/2008: Richard Slyter has Heart attack
Message from Bobbie Slyter:

Bobbie,

Please keep us posted with Richard’s condition.  We are so sorry to hear that he had this heart attack.  It has to be rough on Ely and the rest of you family members as well. As you well know, there are a lot of your family relatives on this distribution. One heck of a lot of us remember you guys well, from our school days too.

Richard is in our prayers,

Gary

From Sharon Longie Dana (73):

Reply from Ivy Eller Robert (74): 

Gary……I was sure that my sister Bonnie who died in Oct of 2006, Told me that Esther had passed away a few years earlier. Bonnie lived all of her life in Dunseith, so I believed her, since I have not since 1976.
Esther, Carl & Cindy & your family…….. I’m so very sorry for my mistake! I send my love to you for the misunderstanding……I haven’t seen you since, I think it was Cindy’s wedding. I remember asking Bonnie several years ago about you Esther, She probably though I meant someone else. I would love dearly to see you, Carl & Cindy. I will be passing through Dunseith in September, my son Jonathan is getting married in Wahpeton on the 13th. I’ll be stopping in Bottineau for a few days with Julie before we continue on to the wedding. I will try to stop by to say Hi…….
Sorry once again for the misunderstanding on my part……..
Ivy (Eller) Robert

Ivy, We all make boo boo’s every so often and there is always some good that comes out of them.  I have sure made my share of screw ups too and yesterday’s message was a prime example.  These screw ups get folks attention and in the process generates activity from folks that sometimes are a little reserved in replying.  I encourage folks to reply, right or wrong.  That’s what gets the ball rolling with the interaction that we have.  Gary
Picture/message from Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Hi Gary,

This is either Edward Houle, or Edward Houle ordered the pictures.  I hope it is Edward–I think it’s a “classy” picture.  There are six 5 x 7′s in paper frames.

I need a name/address, or email address, to contact about these pictures.  Be sure to include the name Eddie Houle.  I sometimes get the info and which picture it pertains to, confused. 

Thanks to those who have sent names/addresses for the pictures.  I’m printing the info/putting it with the picture so I have them together.  Again, thanks for the emails that contain information for the pictures. I /appreciate/enjoy receiving them.

On Saturday, I’m going to Kramer for the “big bash” (My husband, Wally, is from Kramer–he’s coming from Minot.  I taught in Kramer 1961-1963.) and then to Minot.  I won’t be taking any pictures to Minot, so maybe I’ll get caught up with pictures/addresses. 

Thanks, Gary.

Neola

Do any of you folks recognize this guy?


Alva Azure Gladue’s (75) reply to Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Hi Gary,

Thanks to Alva Gladue, we now know this cutie is Mandy Davis.  I’m glad we know, as it would be a shame to not get her pictures to her. The next time I go to the courthouse, I’ll look for more pictures of her.

I appreciate everyone being so helpful in identifying the people in the pictures I send and also the contact information.  You’ve probably guessed I have a passion for pictures. 

Neola

Here’s Alva’s email: The little girl in your pictures is Mandy Davis.  Her mother is Lori

Parisien Davis married to Curtis Timmy Davis  of Dunseith.  Mandy lives in
Dunseith. Her parent’s phone number is 244-5897.  Hope this helps.

                                     Mandy Davis

From Tim Martinson (69): 

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

For those of us who tend to forget how hard it was to HAVE our

constitution….this may bring back a tad of history we all forget from time to time.  We surely have a lot at stake right now!!!

4TH OF JULY

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence ?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the
Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners, men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his
ships swept from the seas by the British Navy.  He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly.  He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding.  His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters.  He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire.  The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed.  The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste.  For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn’t.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots.  It’s not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

I hope you will show your support by sharing this with your family & friends. It’s time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games

Blog (149) posted on July 3, 2008

Folks, As you can see,  we got a lot of replies  to the Mike Poitra family photo.  Their family photo follows all your replies.

Thank you Neola for providing this photo.

From Michaela Poitra: 

Subject: RE: (148) Donna Dubois, Vickie Metcalfe, Ivy Eller, Dick Johnson (picture) & Paula Fassett…..

This is a reply to Ivy Eller, I am the neice to Esther Eller and she is still very much alive and she still lives in Dunseith.

I am Ginger (LaRocque) Poitras Daughter, Michaela , She is married to Anthony Poitra Tall, center one on top, The others are from the top Virginia, Dale, Ina Allery, Anthony, Vita Azure, Gene, Raymond, Second row, Peter, Esther Eller, Grandma(Josephine) Lesedo, Grandpa Mike (Deceased), Mabel Delorme (BEBE), Arnold (Sonny), Bottom Three Mary Ann Morin, Linda Morin, Geraldine Larson.
All of the Children and Grandma are still alive, All live in the area, and Mabel lives in Bismarck.

Michaela, I was hoping you would get this, because I know you mother does not get her email in the summer months when school is out.  Please tell her I am incuding her with this message. Gary

From Debbie Poitra Rondeau (77): 

Names printed on picture by Neolo Kofoid Garbe

Picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:
Note: I got the names out of the Dunseith book for this very same picture.
I see there are two Bertha’s listed.  Gary

Annie, Bertha, Dave, Lester (Bud), Bertha, Marlene, Dorothy Kraft – 1969

Picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:
Marlene , Rodney, Debbie, Brent & Bryan Armentrout – 1969

From Susan Fasssett Martin (65): 

I ran across this article in my dad’s scrapbooks while looking for CCC information.  I thought the Morinville “kids” might like to see it. Hope it is reada     readable  If anyone would like printed copies of anything, let me Know.

Prayers, Susan

I know.     Susan, I also see Floyd (59)& Ann Pritchard’s Wedding picture in this article too. They live up at Lake Metigoshe and are the owners of the Birchw   Birchwood resort

From Tim Martinson (69): 

Hi Gary, 

I have been researching this photo that was labeled Kramer CCC Camp that my mother had in a album that

she had made out of two pieces of plywood and construction paper.  I’m guessing that her brother Harold may

have been at the camp or maybe someone else she knew from the Rollete area . I could not find that much on

the internet but came across this site that had a reference to Kramer.  http://members.aol.com/famjustin/ccchis.html 

The site has a research link that explains how to get government documents which I will have to look into.  The 

Kramer reference was a biography for Lowell “Red” Moore.  After reading the biography I sent off the photo and a

explanation that as work in the area was finished the camps were decommissioned, the whole site was torn down

and at times everything was moved to a new site.  This may or may not have happened at Kramer.  This is the reply

I got from the son.  It is the little things in life that count.  Take Care,  Tim

Tim,

Got your email today. What a pleasant surprise. Yes indeed, that photo fills an empty gap in Pop’s CCC folder. Pop was not there too long. But he related stories of being at Kramer. I really appreciate you sending the picture. Pop was there in 1941, I think. Thanks again for the email and picture. It means a lot to me. I don’t have any pictures of Pop at Kramer, but do have some after he transferred to Lowell, Idaho. Thanks again so much.

Regards,

Larry W. Moore

Biography of Lowell “Red” Moore

CCC Enrollee, Company 766, Kramer, North Dakota & Company 5704, Kooskia, Idaho & Camp F-190, Lowell, Idaho

   My late father, Lowell “Red” Moore was born December 07, 1924 in Marmaduke, Arkansas. He completed the 8th grade in 1939 and worked as a farm laborer. He entered the CCC on January 12, 1942 at Little Rock, Arkansas. He was assigned to the 766th Company at Kramer, North Dakota. He later transferred to Company 5704, Kooskia, Idaho. He was assigned to camp F-190 in Lowell, Idaho where he did road construction and some fire tower watch duty. He later cooked for the officers mess making homemade biscuits and gravy for the officers on weekends. Pop’s name was spelled Loyal, but he changed the spelling to Lowell during his stay at Lowell, Idaho Camp F-190.

   He was discharged on June 17, 1942. When he got back home he used what little money he earned to pay the family grocery bill. He was called for military service, but did not pass the physical. He and mom married in August, 1943. I was born in September, 1947. Pop worked in furniture stores, was a floor mechanic laying all sorts of floor goods. He later worked for Emerson Electric in Paragould, Arkansas as a Die Grinder.

   I lost Pop in March, 1985. In 1998, my son and I took some time off and went to Kramer, North Dakota to look up the CCC Camp. It was non existent and even the locals knew little about it. We went on to Lowell, Idaho in our quest. There we found the site of Camp F-190. One of the original buildings is still in use by the Forest Service and there is a small camping area on the banks of the Lochsa River. We camped there for a couple of days . It was great to spend time with my son at the site of his grandfathers CCC experience……….

—– Larry W. Moore

From Bev Morinville Azure (72):

Gary I  got the pic’s to work……………..  I  still say there is  no better  eye candy then a man in uniform . Thank you all whomever  has served  to keep  our FREEDOM , You  all  are the best. GOD BLESS  U ALL.

  GOD  BLESS YOU …………BEV

Picture provide by Neola Kofoid Garbe, Names identified by Mel Kuhn (70): 

Gary,

Back row left to right, Dave, Joyce Dennis,Middle row Larry, Bernice,Tex. Front row, Patsy, Darlene, Joann. Dave still lives in St. John and has been a mail carrier for about a kazillion years and his wife was the home ec. teacher here for about as many years and retired maybe 5-6 years ago. Other than that I don’t know the rest.

Mel

Amie Des Roches Family, St. John
Back L to R: Dave, Joyce and Denn
Middle L to R: Larry, Bernice,Tex
Front L to R: Patsy, Darlene, Joann.

Folks,  I thought I’d include a few pictures our Veteran service members with today’s message.  Gary

                                    Cliff Henry (65)

                                   Kenny Nerpel (65)

                       Ron Longie (65) with his daughter

                             Todd Poitra (Ginger/Tony’s son)

                             Warren Anderson (65)

                                        Bill Fassett

Folks,  I screwed up the numbering of these messages yesterday.  Yesterday’s message should have been 148, not 146.  There are now two messages numbered 146.  Gary

From Vickie Metcalfe (70):

Gary,

As Velma Wondrasek downsizes,  she, and her family have left many photo’s at the Bottineau County courthouse. Many folks, here in Bottineau are having fun looking through them and identifying folks. These pictures are from many, many, decades of  Wondrasek photography in the area, from Westhope to Dunseith, Belcourt and Rolla.

Also some wonderful old time photos that they restored for folks.

If anyone out there recalls having their class pictures, passports, weddings, restorations or family pictures etc. done at Wondrasek Photography in Bottineau go to the Bottineau courthouse and search.  Be prepared to dig like an archaelolgist as they are not labeled in any order!

There’s some  rediscovery of forgotten photos going on!

Vickie Metcalfe

From Ivy (Eller) Robert (74): 

Gary…….In Mike Poitra Family picture, middle row, second one from the left is Esther Poitra Eller. She was my ex-sister-in-law. She had married my half-brother Herman Eller Jr. They had two children together Carl & Cindy. She pass away a few years back. I don’t remember what year. I think either Carl or Cindy sill live in Dunseith, I’m not sure. I do recognize some of the others in the picture, but I don’t remember their names. Esther & Herman divorced many years ago. I think I was still in grade school when that happened. Esther stayed in the Dunseith, but Herman Jr. moved to California, then Alaska, but retired to Prescott Arizona.

Thanks, Ivy (Eller) Robert
Mike Poitra Family picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Gary,

If someone from this family (Mike Poitra) lives in Bottineau, and I get an address, I’ll deliver it to them.  It’s a nice fairly large picture.

Neola

     Do any of the rest of you know the Mike Poitra Family?

Picture/message from Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

I have quite a few pictures of my mom’s that were taken in the mid

forties. I think she was a ‘shutterbug’ as there are many pictures that
are not for any real occasion, that I can see. It would appear she just
liked to take pictures! Now, 60 years later I’m glad she did! These two
attached pictures are of Mom’s sister, Shirley Olson Warcup [black
skirt] and Shirley Sunderland and both were taken in 1946. A couple
cuties! [Sorry Snookie!] Thanks Gary!

Dick

From Paula Fassett Pfuhl (71): 

I’m guessing the photo that Tim Martinson posted was of a “CC”Camp (Civilian Conservation Corp) in the 1930’s.  They were established by the government to provide work for young men, or some such thing.  My dad (Bill Fassett) worked at/in one – and one of the projects he was involved in was building the Clark-Sayler Refuge over in the Towner area.  My sister Susan has by dad’s history books that he put together and probably has tales of the cc camps…….  As you can tell, I’m not the historian of the family and probably have my facts all “bass-ackwards” as my dad would have said….

Paula

From Betty Jane Schneider Lamb (54): 

Dear Gary:  Thanks to Neola Kofoid Garbe for sending the picture of my parents, Sophie and Peter Schneider.  I am married to Bill Lamb, retired State Farm Insurance Agent, and we live in Grand Forks.  Larry owns Bismarck Gold and Silver Exchange at 212 North 4th Street in Bismarck.  Both Doris and Stanley passed away from cancer in 2003.  Rochelle Pigeon Schneider lives in Sioux Falls.

Thank you Gary for forwarding all the E-mails and we look forward to them.  We appreciate all the work that you are doing.  Betty Jane Schneider Lamb

Message/picture identification from LeaRae Parrill Espe (67):
Picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Back row Janet ’68, Clayton, 72, Thurman
Seated Lynda ’69, Rodney ’73, Myron ’76 and Marie
Janet (George) LeNoue lives in Lexington, Kentucky.   Lynda (Curt) Jordan lives in Yarington, Nevada.  All three sons live in Bottineau.

The older kids attended Willow Lake School and then Dunseith Public, but they redistricted and since their home was in Bottineau County, Homen township they all ended up graduating from Bottineau.  I think Rodney and the girls would like to get on the email lists.  The girls are coming in July.

As you know we are double cousins and have every single relative the same so we are very close to them.

Back row: Janet ’68, Clayton, 72 and Thurman
Seated: Lynda ’69, Rodney ’73, Myron ’76 and Marie
Mike Poitra Family picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:
Gary,
If someone from this family (Mike Poitra) lives in Bottineau, and I get an address, I’ll deliver it to them.  It’s a nice fairly large picture.

Neola

Do any of you know the Mike Poitra Family?

From Debbie Poitra Rondeau (77): 

Good Morning, Gary again

Found out who the Lavendure couple are.  Jeannie Jollie and Ron Lavendure. Ron parents are Nora and John Lavendure.

         Jeannie Jollie and Ron Lavendure

From Alan and Phyllis Campbell:

Picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

There are 9 pictures of this cutie–(one) 8 X 10 picture, (3) 5x 8′s in paper frames, and (5) 3 X 5′s in paper frames.

    Does anyone Know this little girl?

Picture Provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

             Does any one know this couple?

Picture Provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

           Does any one know Bill Lord
 

Picture Provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe:

I’m not sure where Neola found this one, but it’s the Stokes family in about 1968

                  L to R: Elaine, Darrel, Allen, Gary & Bob

From Jan LaCroix Kester (59):

Hi Gary!  Our network was down for about a month so have a lot of catching up to do.  I came to #156 – regarding whether this is Mick Kester or Jackie Spaeth.  That is Mick Kester, definitely!

Jan LaCroix Kester?

From Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Hi Gary,

Thanks to Susan Fassett Martin and Evon and Eric Lagerquist for sending Betty Nerpel’s address to me.  I delivered the picture to Betty earlier today.  She was thrilled to receive it.

Thanks again, ladies. 

Neola

Picture/message from Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Gary,

I’m quite sure this is Sophie/Pete Schneider, parents of Doris, Betty, Stanley, and Larry.  Agree?  I’m sure you remember Doris was married to my uncle, Kenneth Brudwick.  I know Betty is married to a Lamb; Stanley was married to Rochelle Pigeon (right?)–think he has passed away a few years ago.  They lived in the Black Hills, right?  Deadwood area? I think Larry lives in Bismarck, or did.  I saw a segment about him on TV a couple of years ago.  It seems to me he is a coin collector and has a business in Bismarck.  Do you know if it’s in Kirkwood?

When I have accurate information, I’ll send the picture/information to Eileen.

Thanks, Gary.

Neola

Neola, I think you have everything correct as far as I know.  Betty & Larry please let us know if this is all correct.

Larry, You may be surprised to learn that a good friend of yours, Jared Steele,  is currently visiting us here in Cebu, Philippines.  He arrived June 10th and will be going back to Bottineau on August 1st.  We got connected with Jared through your good friend Terry Moe.  Terry graduated with the class of 72.  Jared is such a nice young man.  I know Terry has a good employee, with Jared, working for him in his Yamaha delership/store in Bottineau.

Actually Jared is here to get married.  We introduced him to several nice young ladies and he has connected well with Geraldine.  They have been communicating since February via lots of email messages and phone calls.  Geraldine is 22 years and a recent college graduate with a BS degree in teaching.  Jared is 27.  There is no doubt that they are very compatible and get along very well together.  Their wedding will be July 28th.  It will take 6 to 8 months, after they get married, for Geraldine to get her visa so she can go back to Bottineau.  Gary

Picture from Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Gary,

Gary’s Cota’s information is probably in the Dunseith book.  What was his wife’s maiden name?  Can you identify the boys–which is which?  Gary is related to Martin Berg, but I’ve forgotten how.  I’m sure you can tell me.   I think it’s through his mother, right?

Neola
Neola, I was unable to make contact with Gary when I was putting his class list of 56 together.  I pulled out the Dunseith book see just how Martin Berg and Gary Cota are related.  Their mothers are sisters.  They are also sisters to Dick Johnson’s grandmother and also Freddie Hiatt’s mother.  Dick’s mother (Bernice), Gary Cota, Freddie Hiatt and Martin Berg were 1st cousins.  That’s the way I interpreted it when I read it. Shirley Olson Warcup, Dick’s mothers sister, would also be a cousin.  She is on our Distribution list as well. Gary

From Leland Hagen (50): 

After seeing Susan Fassett Martins reply to the ccc camp picture I beleive she is right. There are no trees anywhere in the picture, not even in the background. The layout of the camps and the buildings were probably pretty standard at all CCC camps.

Leland Hagen

Picture Name Correction from Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Hi Gary,

I hope everything is correct now.  Check to see if I spelled “Bakken” correctly, please.

Neola

Folks, Dick Johnson and Judy Allery have identified the folks in these pictures that Neola Kofoid Garbe provided with yesterdays message.  Neola has made contact with Linda LaRocque Poitra and made arrangements for her to get Eddie’s picture and a few more pictures of other folks that she has.  I have pasted Eddie’s death info at the bottom of the pictures.  Gary

From Dick Johnson (68):djcars@srt.com

Gary,

The serviceman in the middle photo, I believe, is a kid from our class,
named Eddie Nadeau. He quit school and went into the service. He was
married to another classmate, Linda Larocque. She is now married to
Curtis Poitra and still lives in this area. I heard that Eddie is no
longer living but no confirmation on that yet. The guy in the first
picture sure looks familiar but I can’t say for sure. Someone will know
and hopefully reply. Oh, by the way, Ronnie Larocque is Linda’s twin
brother and lives in Beulah or Stanton, ND and I believe is on your
mailing list. Thanks!

Dick

From Judy Allery Azure (65):

Gary the picture dated April 4, 1967 is Rick Williams, the picture dated March 11, 1967 I believe is Eddie Nadeau (deceased) , and Sharon Martin of Belcourt, her brother Dennis was Principal in Duneith.

Judy

Rick Williams – Dated April 4, 1967 Eddie Nadeau – Dated March 11, 1967            Sharon Martin 1971 Edward NADEAU Birth Date: 23 Nov 1948 Death Date: 3 Jan 1996 Social Security Number: 502-54-5836 State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: North Dakota Death Residence Localities ZIP Code: 58329 Localities: Dunseith, Rolette, North Dakota San Haven, Rolette, North Dakota Message/picture from Mel Kuhn (70):

Howdy Gary,

Sure Paula, you women could be getting along like a couple of old alleycats until it comes time to pick on one of us old dogs, then you all pile on——HA! HA! It probably was some woman’s idea to put in the skylight, I had to talk like crazy to convince my wife that we didn’t want one when we put new windows in. Yes, I was first in my class in advice giving.

While everyone is taking a tour through the Hawk Museum head straight north to St. John and walk through the Rolette County Historical site. Art Sr. collected things for years for it and stills attends all the meetings. It is open every Sunday in the summer from 2:00PM til 4:00PM. If Sunday doesn’t work out for you just let me or Dick know and we’ll get you in. Dick is Pres. of the group now that Art. Sr. has slowed down and I’m one of his flunkies. There are old buildings to look at as well as two large builds full of goodies and machinery to investigate, Dunseith and San Haven included.Hopefully I’m including a picture of an original old Trappers Cabin that is at the site.

Mel Kuhn

Pictures/message from Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

My aunt Shirley ‘Snookie’ Warcup’s story about Hank Johnson was great!
Mom always talked about him as being a very ‘nice’ drunk! He wasn’t mean
in any way, just liked to get loaded once in a while! I remember her
saying that one Christmas during World War II, they were all at Grandma
Johnson’s on Christmas Eve. Hank left with some of his old buddies and
didn’t make it home. The next day they all went up to Mac and Gladys
William’s place for dinner, on what was later the Bob Pritchard place.
Gladys was Hank’s sister, and sister to Grandma Myrtle Olson [Snookie
and Mom’s mom]. About the time everyone was ready to eat, the phone rang
with six longs [ for those of you who don’t know, the crank phones had
long and short rings.] The six long pattern was for emergencies only.
This was reserved for fires, medical, the attack on Pearl Harbor, etc.
Grandpa Henry Olson grabbed the phone and said he could hear all the
phones in the hills being lifted, click,click,click! When it got quiet,
there was this big voice saying, ” Where the HELL is everybody?” Hank
was home! Thanks Gary and Snookie!

Attached are photos of Grandma Johnsons house, through the years.

Blog (144) posted on June 27, 2008

Reply from Shirley LaRocque Wendt (59): 

Obituary

DELLA NELSON

JULY 24, 1922-JUNE 16, 2008

POSTED: June 20, 2008

Della Nelson, Minot, 85, formerly of Lansford, passed away Monday, June 16, 2008.

Della Evelyn Nelson was born July 24, 1922, in rural Nanson, to Carl and Ellen Lunde. She was baptized and confirmed at Ox Creek Lutheran Church in Nanson.

She attended grade school in Nanson and graduated from Rolette High School in 1939.

Della was once married to Donald Cobler of Rolette, and together they had three children: Dennis, Diane and Donnie. Don was transferred to Bastrop, Texas, where Della attended nursing school and worked at a local hospital in Bastrop.

Della returned to Rolette in the early 1950s and worked at the Rolette hospital. While living in Rolette, she met John Nelson and they were married July 3, 1955. They had four children: Sherry, Jana, Bob and Jeff. The couple lived in Rolette and New Rockford before settling in Lansford and retiring there. In 2003, they moved to their current home in Minot.

Della and her brother, Howard Lunde, owned and operated D&H Market in Lansford from about 1969 until 1973. Following the sale of the grocery store, she managed Broken Spoke Western Wear.

As a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansford, she served on the church council and was active with the Ladies Aid. She was president of the Lansford Senior Citizens for several years, joined Eastern Star while living in Rolette, volunteered at Taube Art Museum and belonged to a birthday club. For many years, she was a member of the Potter’s Bar bowling team.

Della had many interests and was rarely bored. She loved to cook, bake and entertain. She spent many hours in her flower gardens and enjoyed silk flower arranging. She was a member of a bridge group and loved playing pinochle with her family. She and John were avid Minnesota Twins fans.

She is survived by: her husband, John Nelson, Minot; daughters, Diane Botton, Great Falls, Va., Sherry (Tim) Coutts, Colorado Springs, Colo., Jana Nelson, Minot; sons, Dennis (Kathleen) Cobler, Muskegon, Mich., Don Cobler, Bob Nelson, of Craig, Colo., Jeff Nelson, Minot; grandchildren, Amy Cobler, Mike Cobler, Brian (Renee) Botton, Teresa (Pete) Gilbert, Carla (Brian) Safigan, Ilona (Ryan) Goltz, Tricia (Tom) Luebesmier, Charisse Cobler, Jake Coutts, Casey Coutts; and six great-grandchildren.

The family will be forwarding memorial contributions to various organizations in Della’s memory.

Memorial service: Thursday, July 3, 2008, at 10 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lansford.

Burial: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.

Visitation: There will be no reviewal, however, friends may sign a register book on Wednesday, July 2, 2008, from noon until 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).

                        John Awalt – Class of 65 – July 12, 2007

Ernie Gottbreht, Cecile Berube & Margaret Metcalfe – Class of 65 – July 14, 2007

     Susan Fassett & Angela Berube – Class of 65 – July 14, 2007

From Joan LaCroix Lannie (67): 

Hi Gary i have changed my e-mail and I want to give you my new information.

You are doing a great job keeping us all connected and i have missed the last few days from hearing from you.

Tony and I and our two grand daughters are going to Minnesota to be with my family for the 4th of July.

Have a great holiday. Joan Lannie LaCroix

Picture provided by Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

Hi Gary,

This picture says “Ray Nerpel, Dunseith”.  The original is 11 X 13, or so. It wouldn’t fit on my scanner.  Any of the Nerpel family live in/near Bottineau and would like to pick up this picture?  If not, I’ll put it in the “Dunseith” box.

Neola

Ray Nerpel Family
(Standing) Wilfred, Gordon, Mike, Carol, Harvey
(seated) Betty, Ted, Raymond

 
From Susan Fassett Martin (65):

I think this is the CCC camp #766 Kramer ND.   My dad, Wm T Fassett attended there in 1939.  While there he helped build the lower Souris wildlife refuge, driving truck mostly.  Oddly enough, a few years ago our oldest daughter was working at that same wildlife refuge.  They ran an article in the Turtle Mt Star on Johnida, our daughter and my dad.  I will try to find that and send it.

Also, my husband fell at the landfill on Monday and broke both bones in his right leg just a few inches above the ankle.  He will be laid up for quite some time.  Pray for speedy healing.      Prayers,  Susan

Pictures from Neola Kofoid Garbe:

Folks, these are some pictures that Neola has found that she thinks may be from the Dunseith/Rolette county areas.  Please let us know if any of you know any of these folks.  Gary

Is this the same James Parisien that was in the class of 1969 and died in 1991?  Gary


Eddie King Johnson Family, Belcourt  – 1969


  John Derby Family 1979

Updated Dunseith Alaska Cruise list:

Folks,

I just received this updated list from our travel agent, Gina Ford. This is looking really good.

We have had one fuel surcharge increase since we started booking our group. With the price of crude oil on the rise the way it is, I’m expecting more and a lot higher fuel surcharges in the future.

For those of you even contemplating going on this cruise, I suggest that you lock in your cabin, ASAP, to avoid paying future fuel surcharge increases and also to be more assured of getting the cabin selection of your choosing. All of your moneys are fully refundable up to 90 days prior to the cruise. Hopefully Gina will be able to reserve additional cabins when we get the hundred we have reserved, filled. The quicker we get them filled, the greater her chances will be of being able to reserve more cabins.

Think of the fun we will have on this cruise with so many Dunseith folks on board.  We will have 7 days to enjoy each others company and get reacquainted with folks we have not seen for years, in some cases more than 50 years.

I’m hoping I heard things right when I heard through the grape vine that Minnie Flynn is also signed up to go.  I’m sure hoping we can get more of our former teachers signed up as well.  It will be great having Minnie onboard with us.  Maybe we can twist Art Rude’s hand and a few others too.

Take care,

Gary

From: Cruise At Will (Gina Ford)

To: Gary Stokes ; Grimme, Bill ; Leonard, Margaret Metcalf

Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 9:58 PM

Greetings All –

The newly booked (in green) were sent statements on Sunday June 22nd. I apologize that it took me a couple of days to get the new list to you.

You now have a total of 27 cabins.  GREAT WORK team!!

M/M Gary Stokes

Wm. Grimme and Irina Protassevitch

M/M Ronald Cavaliere

M/M Warren Anderson

M/M Doyle Abrahamson

Nancy Baldwin/Keith Kontzie

Wayne Galloway/ Leona Randall

M/M Michael Vandal

M/M Scott Sjol

Muzette Fiander/ Trish Clayburgh

Randy Flynn Family  – (with 3 cabins)

Dwight Lang/ Rene Cassavant

Florence Sime/ Becky Coles 

M/M Greg Malget

M/M Keith Pladson

Cheryl Haagenson (who would like a roommate)

M/M Mark Vandyne

M/M Wm. Longie

M/M Charles Munro

M/M Dave Shelver

M/M Terry Espe

M/M Darel Stokes

M/M Robert Berube

Phyllis McKay/Pat Heggen

M/M Gary Metcalfe

Thank you and kind regards,

Gina S. Ford

Cruise At Will, Inc.

Cruise and Travel Planners

1-866-870-6986 (toll free)

954-578-1718 (local)

www.CruiseAtWill.com

Gary and Dave Slyter,

Dave’s comments brought back memories of my Grandma Johnson’s farm.  Freddie Hiatt is my cousin so that would make Dave my nephew (by marriage).  Freddie ,I believe, is Dave’s step-father. Dave, I’m sorry you didn’t meet my uncle Hank.  He was quite a character!!   Hank came to town every couple months and always proceeded to get pretty drunk.  He usually ended up in jail, not because of fighting, but just because of being falling down drunk.  The next morning when he was sober,he would be released from jail and he would go back to the farm.  One day when I was probably in 5th or 6th grade, I and someone else (can’t remember who it was) decided to go uptown to get some candy during the lunch hour.  As we were starting to cross the street in front of KC Sine’s store I heard some yell “Hi Snookie”.  It was my Uncle Hank–he was sweeping the street in front of Lamoureux’s Garage.  I quietly replied “Hi” and for about 2 seconds wondered why he doing what he was doing.   I then realized he must have ended up in jail as usual and Frank Flynn decided to have him do a little work before he simply released him–perhaps thinking that would have a positive effect on Hank’s drinking.  I don’t think it worked, however . On one of Hank’s later trips to town, I guess Hank decided he was drunk enough, so he went to Frank Flynn’s home, sat on the front steps and I believe went to sleep, and just waited for Frank to come home and take him to the jail–at least that’s what I was told.     My Grandma Johnson died in May, 1953.  Hank died in Nov. 1952.  My mother said she thought my grandmother felt she had to stay alive as long as Hank was living because he needed someone to  “look after” him.  Once Hank died, my grandmother died soon after.  Hank was a good natured man.  He probably caused a lot of concern for my grandmother but he always made us smile–he was a carefree guy.

Thanks Gary, Dick, Dave and many others for bringing back good memories!!

Shirley Warcup

From Deb Morinville Marmon (70):

Hi Gary,

I was so upset to hear about the storm and the capsizing of the ferry.  I am sponsoring a little boy through World Hope and pray that he and his family are OK. He is from the B’laan tribe of Southern Mindanoa in the Philippines. I haven’t heard anything from WH so I hope that is good news.

Life in Montana is fine except for the weird weather we have had this year. Usually no rain so far this 10 inches!  Now we are hitting the hi 80′s and lo 90′s.  Go figure.  I have a very weird sweat gland disease and sweating is very bad for me so I spend most of the season in my house.  It affects my joints and I am facing a hip replacement very soon.  It’s always something. But I am not complain!  I have a very blessed life with a wonderful husband of 29 years, 4 terrific children who are swamping me with grandchildren (2 due -1 in Sept and1 in Jan) We already have 4.

I wonder if anyone remembers the little carnivals that used to come to town and set up in the skating rink. That was when we got to see friends from school that we usually didn’t see except at school.

Gary we shared an aunt and one of the funniest things I remember about her was the party line.  Aunt Olga never quite got the hang using it.  When she would call my Mom she was already talking when Mom answered the phone and when she was done talking she would just hang up!  One time she won some bedroom furniture at a Bottineau store and when Uncle Bert came home she was building a room onto the house to put it in.

I loved being around her with her Norwegian accent and her stories. She made some of the best bread and baked in an an old wood cookstove.  She was quit a gal!

Keep the stories coming.  They are absolutely wonderful!

Deb Morinville Marmon 70

Gary’s reply
Yes Deb, Olga was my dad’s sister married to your mother’s brother Bert Hanson. Some of our Dunseith folks will remember her.  Everything you have said about Olga is absolutely true. Olga was well known for just hanging up the phone when she decided she didn’t want to talk any more.  It’s not that she was upset, that’s just the way she was and everyone knew and accepted it.  After Bert died she married Emil Haseldahl also from the Bottineau turtle mountain area.  She was a character.  Before going to the hospital for the very last time in her life to have surgery, she took a piece of tablet paper and wrote at the top, “In Case I Kick the Bucket”.  Then she wrote a very detailed list of all of her possessions of who was to get what and left it in her apartment.  Olga did not survive the surgery and died.  Dad was with Jean and Audrey when they split things up using her “In case I kick the Bucket” list.  The Olga stories are endless.  We miss her dearly.  Olga’s granddaughter, Amy, is the one that recently put together the Dunseith WEB site.  As I have mentioned before, The Petterson (dad’s biological family) gatherings were never dull. Gary
From Paula Fassett Pfuhl (71): 

Thank-you Art Rude (jr) for the great photos of your dad – who looks great, by the way – and of the HawkMuseum.  For any of you who haven’t been to the HawkMuseum, next time you’re in the area, you really should go and spend some time there.  They’ve done a great job – and I know Art Rude Sr has been a driving force getting it established and keeping it going.  It’s well worth the trip!

Mel Kuhn, I’m taking sides with your wife!!!  I have a disabled husband, so I’m the one who goes up on the roof and seals the leaking skylights (whoever invented those stupid things), I’m the one who cusses and swears at the weed whip, lawnmower and all the other tools that have a pull start that NEVER starts on the first, second OR third pull…………and my husband is ALWAYS there with the sound advice to give me as I’m preparing to smash one of those handy tools with my hammer!!!!!  Do you guys take a class in advice giving?????????  Maybe it’s similar to the nagging class that wives attend – ha!!!!!

Are there any parades going on in August???  Some of us Fassett-types are hoping to get ‘home’ then……

Paula

From Bob Lykins (former teacher):

Gary,

How well I remember those typhoons. I was more than once stranded at Subic Bay Naval Base because of the weather.  I vividly remember taking the bus from Subic to Clark Air Base after a typhoon and traveling over the one major highway in the area that was for miles completly covered in water.  The only way the driver knew to follow the road was because of the posts jutting out of the water on each side of the highway.  It was all just one hugh lake for as far as the eye could see.  It was not just for natural air conditioning that the houses were built on stilts.  It is amazing how people learn to adjust to living and surviving under such conditions.

Bob

Reply from Dick Johnson(68): 

Gary and Friends,

The one picture of Neola’s (message 141)is Larry and Lise’s wedding, with their
parents Mr. and Mrs. Billy Metcalfe and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Rousseau. The
others are unfamiliar to me. Thanks Gary, glad to hear the typhoon kind
of missed your place!

Dick

From Bill Grimme (65): 

Gary,

This photo was sent to me by my dear friend, Vern Sanden. The photo was taken in 1910. Vern lived in Bottineau.

Vern and I met at UND after Vern returned from his service in the US Army. We tended bar together at Whitey’s Cafe in East Grand Forks for a while and we had a lot of adventures there. One night I accidentally locked Vern and John Frykman in the beer cooler at Whitey’s. They were in there for several hours, I guess, and when they got out, neither one of them complained, for some reason or another; the stock of small bottles of Mogen David that we kept in there was pretty low after their stay.

I got such an education from Vern and John that I quit school and joined the US Navy. Actually turned out to be a good move, eventually, after about 10 years. It was a funny choice – graduate from UND in one year or join the Navy for 10!

Anyway, can you put Vern on the mailing list? I’m sure a lot of our folks know Vern from his high school days in Bottineau.

Bill

From Mel Kuhn (70):

Howdy Gary,

Dick’s eyesite is getting bad. That was a shiney old 1975 Corvette that I was riding in. It belongs to Duane Gourneau who about in 1968 or so was a cop in Dunseith on his first assignment. My wife was riding ahead of us with Duane’s wife Cindy in a 1973 Porche. I could have gotten Dick a little wetter but he moves pretty quick for an old man.

Mel Kuhn

Picture from Neola Kofoid Garbe: 

From Art Rude (71):

Just a note, to let  you know, you may enjoy the pictures I just published of my dad on Father’s day.  He was the grand Marshall at the parade at the Hawk Museum by Wolford.  www.artrude.com and follow the link to regular webpage photos.
Art

Peace and Power, Art Thanks for checking out Art Rude Productions, webpage address: www.artrude.com

Art,  These are wonderful pictures that you have posted on your WEB site.  I love your Solo too. Your Dad is looking great!  You are not looking bad your self. Gary

From Gary Metcalfe (57): 

Sue and I just made a trip 2,900 miles to Almonte, Ontario Canada to research some of my heritage.  We found a beautiful little town with a river running through it and many rock waterfalls that ran down to Metcalfe Park.  I  stopped anyone who looked over 70 years old and got lots of good stories of a great uncle, A.A. Metcalfe who had been a dr. in Almonte for 65 years.  He was from a family of 12 and he was the youngest.  His mother, Jean McLean Metcalfe lived to 97 yrs. and smoked a clay pipe.  They were of Scotch decent.  I looked in the library and found at least 5 generations documented….somebody cared.

That is one reason I am enjoying these letters so much as we touch on so many families and memories.  Keep ‘em coming.

Now only one more endeavor along this line, I need to know more about my Grandma, Veronica Rose LaDuc or LaDuke.  Her father Louis LaDuc seems to have gotten away, so I will try to find a trace of her brother, Joe LaDuc. She was of Native American decent.   Anyone out there that can make my work easier, please help.  I wish I had had more time with her because she was a very loving person and added a lot of joy to our family.
Gary Metcalfe

From Dave Slyter (70): 

Dick:

Thank you so much for sharing the old pictures of the house that we use to live in.  Before we bought Bennies farm, I remember many times of Terry Hiatt and I going up while my dad went up to help Bennie cut wood and help do some other chores.  Terry and I usually went out on the lake and ice skated or roamed around the farm yards.

The picture of the organ that Agnes is playing still exists.   Mom and Dad moved it down to Rugby and had it in their home.  After mom passed it went on the auction sale and my sister Kim bought it and now has it in her home.  We spent many hours ourselves pumping the pedals and playing the keys.  Brenda became pretty good at it.

It was good to see everyone in the pictures.  Benny was a really nice person as was all his sisters.  I never got to meet Hank but heard a lot about him.

Again thanks
Dave Slyter  : )

Bobby Slyter’s reply to the Philippine Typhoon (70): 

From Mel Kuhn (70): 

Howdy Gary,

Well the wife and I made it through the weekend without killing each other. Although after her bout with a weed sprayer that didn’t want to work and wondering why she had to do this in the yard and that to the garden and burning herself making BBQ sauce that she just had to have[I do 90% of the cooking]. She has decided that she doesn’t want my job. Well I don’t want hers either, even our dogs are wondering why I’m not playing with them. The incident with the weed sprayer brought me close to killing myself and then her so we had to quit that project. Women just can’t understand that we are not being bossy, that our ADVICE is for their own good and yes we do know everything. Right guy’s?

Mel Kuhn[70]

From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary and Friends,

I suppose Mel thinks he is one up on this old joker with his Boomerang
joke! Mel when your boomerang is broken, you have what we call–a STICK!
Did you hear about the Aboriginie who got all beat up the other day,
Mel? He got a new boomerang and tried to throw his old one away! Nuk,
nuk, nuk!! Old broken down Mel was riding in a new yellow Corvette in
the St. John Days parade on Saturday. He had his hands all bandaged up
but the jerk was still able to shoot us judges with a water cannon! So
folks, don’t spend too much time feeling sorry for him! Actually it felt
pretty good, it was hotter than blue blazes out there in the sun! And
Mel’s wife IS a good cook! She is also a very nice person, she was just
having trouble with her eyesight when she met Mel! Thanks Gary! 

Dick

Pictures from Ardys Bakken Horner (former teacher):

hi Gary!   Thought you would like to see what I look like, I am not good at putting photos on the web, but there is one of Jon and I with the Packers flag, he’s a fan, I root for the MN Vikings –anyway this is his 70th birthday party  Ardys Bakken Horner  former teacher (68-70)

Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:44:00 -0500

These are a few of the better pics from today. Good to see you all–M

            Jon & Ardy Heather, Chad & Ardys

Subject: Capsized Philippine ship that sunk with Typhoon Frank killing hundres for folks:

This letter was forwarded to me by a friend.

I was truly upset when I saw the news. My heart cried for the victims and relatives.

Is there really a dearth of common sense anymore in our native country, the Philippines?

I now live in the US  and I see how safety of passengers is a priority here.

If there is a typhoon coming, and I am Sulpicio lines, would I let my ship go? If I am the Coast guard and a typhoon is coming, will I clear the ship to sail?

I  live near the Dallas Airport and even if a storm is not that strong, the planes are not allowed to fly. I went on a cruise from Houston and the ship was not allowed to leave until the hurricane path was ascertained.

Should we wait for other similar disasters to happen to react or take action

Folks,

First of all, thank you so much for your concerns, I will attempt to answer your questions that I have pasted below.

I listed yesterdays message as 160.  It should have been 140.  I realized the mistake after I had already sent it.

Typhoon Frank hit parts of the Philippines hard.  We were spared from the brunt of the storm.  We had a considerable amount of rain with, I’m guessing, no more than 40 MPH winds.  Areas to the north of us had winds as high as 120 MPH with lots more rain than we had. A passenger ship with over 800 passengers and crew left Manila, headed to Cebu, our island, knowing they were going to have to pass through Typhoon Frank, but they left anyway. They didn’t make it.  Their ship sank to the bottom of the ocean.  Reading today’s paper, there are only 4 known survivors. That’s such a tragedy for the ill judgement of the ship captain that is also missing and assumed dead.

Here in Cebu, we are spared from most all of the typhoons that pass through the PI.  Most all of them pass to the north of us.  We are located about 400 miles south of Manila and about 1,200 miles south of Hong Kong.  Saigon, now Ho Chi minh City, Vietnam is about 400 miles west of us.

Gary
From Geri Metcalfe Munro (59):

Gary,

I received #139 and now #160–have we missed something or were they mis-numbered??
We did sign up for the cruise on 6-18-08–now we’re excited.
Geri Metcalfe Munro

Ivy Eller Robert (74): 

Gary…….

I just read about the typhoon that hit the Philippines, more so Manilla? I hope you are OK? Did the water get to you? The pictures I just viewed are unbelievable…….WOW! I pray everything is OK with you and your Family!

Ivy (Eller) Robert

From Susan Fassett Martin (65): 

Gary and Bernadette,  So sorry to read of the loss of life with the typhoon that hit your area.  I have been praying for you and hope that all your friends and loved ones are safe.  Did you get any of the damage??  Hope all is well there.  Hugs and prayers.   Susan

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary,

This morning I saw a weather report of typhoon conditions for Cebu and
am wondering if things are still OK there? Hope it misses your place!!

Dick

From Joyce Murray Anderson (73):

Hi Gary,

Thank you  so much, it was more than 30 years since Bev, Rita and I were all together.  All those years melted away with the first hug.

As a matter of fact, Gary, my cousin Ivy (Eller) Robert, found me the same way.  I can’t tell you how wonderful it feels to be reunited with loved ones. Ivy lives a few miles up the road, and has been there for 22 years, we just did not know. Being able to see everyone again is a shot directly from the “Fountain of Youth”.  Thank you again.

I love reading all the blogs, thanks for adding me to your list.

Joyce

From Kenny Nerpel (65): 

Gary,

I need to respond to the latest Larry Hackman story.  I also attended the party which he referenced.  I remember it just a little differently though.  I believe that I actually came to the party with the young man, who left the party shoeless, that was central to his story.  The lady also got me with a pretty good shot upside the head, then after I picked myself up and dusted myself off she actually invited me to attend the party, feeling I guess, that she had made a mistake.  The thing I remember about her was that she hit hard and often.  I’m thinking the animosity between her and the then young man were things that went back for a generation or more having to do with differences in the German and Norwegian cultures that existed along highway 43 and exacerbated by the consumption of Schlitz.  I never did understand what it was all about and I am sure that it was all resolved shortly after the incident.  The party was actually in the house, although I’m sure there were a few that slipped off for brief encounters in the hayloft that could technically be termed a barn dance( As Merle Haggard would say, “holding hands and pitching woo”).  Anyway, I actually went into the house and visited for awhile before making a hasty retreat.

Later, I believe that same year, I was involved in another skirmish along highway 43 that was the result of two young men vying for the affections of the same cute young Canadian gal.  After that I pretty much avoided the social life along highway 43 (much too violent).

Thanks for the memories Larry

Kenny Nerpel

From Lynn Halvorson Otto (75): 

Hi Gary, I’m sitting here at my in-laws in Lester Prairie, MN enjoying our summer break from Seoul.  Over the weeks I read all of these memory postings and I have to tell you, the ones from Mel Kuhn make me laugh out loud.  I know the last name but don’t know the man.  I’d like to meet him just to say how much laughter he brings into my day.  Also I’m amazed at Dick Johnson’s ability to recall all the stuff he recalls.

I’m hoping to get together with other classmates this summer for more reminiscing while I’m in ND.  Thanks Gary and thanks to your lovely wife for all her support of your time on the computer.

Lynn Halvorson Otto (75)

Lynn, Joe Casavant from the class of 65 lives in Lester Praire.  Joe and his wife were at our class of 65 reunion this last summer.  Joe comes from the Casavant family of 16.  I do have all of the 16 casavant siblings in my files, many of which have email and are on this distribution.  Gary

From Mel Kuhn (70): 

Howdy Gary,

Good news, I was allowed out of the dog house last night. The wife made a passable spaghetti and meatsauce with some slightly burned garlic bread and a salad. The good news is that she didn’t hurt herself getting the can of pasta sauce open or anything. She did make me sit out on the deck with the dogs so that I wouldn’t be tempted to offer advice. You know when you try to offer a women advice it’s always taken as being bossy

More good stuff from Larry H. The barn dances and house parties are a thing of the past. Along with the big family picnic’s with softball games and horseshoes and all kinds of food. Grownups and kids all playing in the same games. I remember many a picnic at Butte St. Paul and the Peace Garden. Could you imagine a big family picnic at the Peace Garden now days? You would have to allow about 8 hours for everyone to clear customs on the way out. I think I know where my birth certificate is but what about the elderly like my mom. Good luck! Sorry, didn’t meen to put a down side to a good old memory.

Hey Dick, What do you have when your Boomerang is broken?

Mel Kuhn[70]
From Susan Fassett Martin (65):

The parade picture is Red Kester in the car. The house is the one that the Mongeons used to live in and then the Awalts and John and Bonnie Awalt are both in the picture.     Susan

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

Gary’s mention of Charles Hagen and Bennie Johnson had me back sorting
pictures again! Although Bennie Johnson was my grandmother’s brother, I
am not the same ‘Johnson’ name. My mom’s mother was a Johnson, who then
married an Olson and had my mom, who then married a different Johnson!
Are we confused yet? Anyway, Grandma Johnson’s place on Willow Lake was
the gathering place for Mom’s family for many years, especially at
Christmas. Grandma Johnson’s husband died many years before she did, so
we called the farm ‘Grandma Johnson’s’ for as long as I can remember.
She lived to be in her eighties, and died in 1953. She had two sons who
stayed at home and did the farming, Bennie and Hank. Hank died in 1952,
so after 1953 it was just Bennie on the farm. There were about 12 kids,
if I remember correctly, and many stayed in the area and had families.
If anyone wants to read the history of the family, it is in the Dunseith
History book on pages 251-252. The pictures attached are from a
Christmas gathering in about 1952. The picture with Bennie playing the
fiddle and Agnes Salmonson [his niece], on the old pump organ, also
shows Loretta Johnson Quillinan [another niece, mom to Denise and
Darlene] standing in the next room. The other picture with the fiddle
shows Denise on the right and Darlene behind Bennie, both about 7 years
old.  Sitting at the table are Hilda Strong [another niece], Grandma
Johnson, and Myrtle Olson [my grandmother]. The last picture shows
George Cota [with the surprised look] and in the back, Henry Olson [my
grandpa]. They always got out the fiddle, and sometimes an old guitar,
and played old time music. Just a year and a half ago I had the honor of
playing some of the old songs with Agnes Salmonson at her birthday
party. She passed away not long after that so it will remain a highlight
for me for a very long time. Thanks Gary!

From Mel Kuhn (70):

Howdy Gary,

Did you know that Lola V. is a tattle tale, tattle tale? She just had to go and tell my wife about the Hamburger Helper crack. Thanks Lola! I had to share some dry dog food with my dogs for supper last night [was about the same as her Hamburger Helper]. She did give us a big bowl of water to go with it, so that helped. I hope my hands heal up fast, although I do need to loose some weight I do miss being able to scratch where,what and when I want to.

Mel Kuhn[70]
From Marshall Awalt  (51):

Hi Gary

While there were pictures of the parades going around I figured I might add a couple.Red Kester and Art Sime were two of Dunseith’s finest.

Your doing a great job Gary keep up the good work.

Marshall

                                            Art Seim

                    Red Kester & ???? (Need some help)

From Larry Hackman (66):

Gary

I remember attending a barn dance west of Kelvin along Highway #43 back in the sixties. These cousins of the people putting on the dance came cruising and parked in the farm yard much the same way everybody else had parked.  I don’t know how the lady of the house knew they were there. But, she came rushing over into the parking area and insisted that they leave the property right now.  This young man, her cousin who was about 20 years old at the time, argued with her and tried to convince her to let them stay and enjoy the dance.  This lady about 30 years old at the time was’t buying what the young man was selling.  She pulled back a fist and let it fly, hitting that  young man so hard that she knocked him right out of his shoes.  It’s hard to believe, but his shoes were left there sitting in the exact position they were in when he was standing in front of this lady and the young man was laying on the ground about 10 feet behind his shoes.  Needless to say the young man grabbed his shoes and left the premises with his buddies.  At least I think he picked up his shoes?  Anyway, this story in the Pierce

County Tribune reminded me of this little adventure.  Maybe it will jog some other memories?

Larry

Letter from Charles (Chuck) Hagen (48): No email address

Dear Gary,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the gradation class list of 1948 you sent to me.  I sure have enjoyed looking it over.

Gary, I got married 3 weeks ago today, May 19, 2008.  Still on my honeymoon.  Call me sometime.

Good to hear from you,

2917 Collins Ferry Rd
Gladys, VA 24554
Landline(434) 283-5825
Cell (434) 941-3119

Note: Following his retirement from the Air Force, Chuck Hagen moved back to his home place up in the Ackworth/Willow Lake community in the hills. I think he told me he purchased the Freddie Hiatt farm too, formally the Bennie Johnson place that connected his property to the south.  He farmed that property (4 quarters) for years before moving back to VA.  Chuck lost his wife a few years ago, but is now remarried. Even though I did not know Chuck, he was sure glad to get my call. We both knew of each other though. Gary

From Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

I guess I forgot to mention the horses in the parade, I was just showing

the stores. Brian Fauske is in the chariot and just above his team is
Norris Knutson. I think the Mexican is Wayne Barbot, and the guy behind
Norris is Bob Brennan, although I could be wrong . If anyone knows for
sure, please tell us. Thanks Gary!

Dick

Question from Susan Malaterre Johnson (69): 

Hey Dick,

Did your Uncle Axel tell you about his time on the Titanic?  He used to tell my mom, Hilda Malaterre, all about it.

Susan Johnson

Passing of Michael Bostic, Former Dunseith teacher and husband of Linda Millang (63):

From Julie Knox Seier (82):

Hi Gary,
First of all thanks for sending out all of the “stuff” that you
do to all of “Dunseith folks”.  Very nice of you, keep up the
good work.

Many people may or may not remember my Aunt Linda Millang
Bostic. She graduated from Dunseith in 1963. Her husband,
Michael Bostic, passed away May 29, 2008 in Buffalo, MN. I am
going to enclose his obit. that was written by their son,
Arthur for anyone who may be interested. Mike taught for a few
years in Dunseith so a few people may remember him as well.

Lola Knox, Susie Millang, Julie Seier, Wayne Olson, Willard &
Laurene Olson, and Dale Millang traveled to Buffalo, MN to
attend the memorail service that was held on June 5th.

Thanks again and send up some prayers for Linda as she deals
with this difficult time.

Julie (Knox) Seier

Julie’s reply to my message. Gary

Gary,
I don’t know if there is anyone near Linda that has email.
Maybe her son Arthur does but I don’t have his email address.
If anyone wanted to send her messages they could send them to
me and I would print them and send them to her in the mail.
Linda will be in the Dunseith area at the end of June. We are
having a 70th birthday party for my Mom, Lola (Millang) Knox on
June 28th at Metigoshe. Mike’s obit is at the end of my message
instead of attached. I got his picture to attach as it wouldn’t
come up with my message. Thanks so much.

(I do live in Minot. Have lived here ever since I graduated in
1982.)

Michael Bosic’s Obituary: Former Dunseith teacher.

Michael Bostic, 63, passed away in the comfort of his home in

Buffalo Thursday, May 29th, 2008 with his family by his side.

On March 19th, 1945 in Pipestone, Minnesota, A. A. and May
Ellen (Regan) Bostic was blessed with a son and named him
Michael D. Bostic.

Michael spent the majority of his professional life as a Social
Studies teacher and football coach in North Dakota. In the
later years of his career in education, he also served as a
Business Administrator. He truly enjoyed interacting with young
people, both in the classroom and on the football field.

Michael will leave a legacy of perseverance. Despite a
courageous battle with several chronic diseases, including COPD
and Diabetes, he touched many with his sense of humor and
larger than life laugh. He was active in the Buffalo United
Methodist Church, where he enjoyed strengthening his faith and
sharing plenty of laughs with his Sunday School class.

Family was the most important thing to Michael. He married
Linda Millang on June 16th, 1979 at a ceremony in the Peace
Lutheran Church in Dunseith, ND. Linda was truly his life long
companion and best friend. In their nearly 29 years of marriage
they were rarely apart, and that held through to the very end.
Michael also loved his children, Michael Patrick, who was taken
too soon, and his son Arthur. He was also a “soon to be
Grandfather” and will be looking down from heaven with great
pride in November.

He is preceded in death by a son: Michael Patrick Bostic; his
parents: A. A. and May Ellen Bostic; and two brothers: Arthur
Lane Bostic and James Bostic.

Michael is survived by his loving wife: Linda (nee Millang)
Bostic of Buffalo; son: Arthur (Amy) Bostic of New Hope;
brothers: Steven (Sharon) Bostic of Mesa, Arizona and Patrick
(Cassandra) Bostic of Tigard, Oregon; sister-in-law: Barbara
Bostic of Watertown; and many nephews, nieces, other relatives
and good friends.

The memorial service for Michael will be Thursday, June 5th,
2008 at 6pm at the United Methodist Church of Buffalo.
Visitation will begin at 4pm.

A private family interment will take place the following Friday.

From Bev Morinville Azure (72): 

I would just like to thank  all of  the people  who are  sharing  the  pictures  it  is  nice  to  see .    Thank you  Gary for  what you  do for  us.  Joyce  Murray (Anderson) and  Rita Parisien (Anderson)  and I  spent the  last  2  days  together at  my house  visiting and  getting  caught up. We  were  all very  good friends in  HS . Joyce  found us again  because  of  the work you have done Gary ………thanks again Bev  Azure (morinville) 72

From Bill Hosmer (48):

Gary and Friends.  Dick Johnson’s pictures of main
street 1976 and the airborne shot of Dunseith brought
to mind the density of the main street compared to the
widely spread neighborhoods of town.  Then the
attractiveness of the businesses along main street
that are apparent in the parade shots. These are great
viewing for us senior citizens.  Yesterday I ran into
Art Rude, Sr.  He is definitely senior, but gave me an
excellent report on his activities which are oriented
toward celebrations around the county, including
parades, and his constant search for drivers to
participate.  If there ever was a Mr. Dunseith, Art
Rude would sure be in the running.  Cheers, and
thanks. Bill Hosmer

From Jim Robillard (58):

GARY,

IN RESPONCE TO BONNIE AWALT’S STATEMENT ABOUT WHO IS STANDING NEXT TO THE BAND DIRECTER ERICKSON. SHE THOUGHT THAT IT COULD BE ME.

WELL IT IS NOT ME, (JIM ROBILLARD) AND, I DON’T KNOW WHO IT IS EITHER.

SORRY.

BONNIE I HOPE YOU ARE WELL.

GOD BLESS

JIM

From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary,

Stan Salmonson says the girl by Dwayne Lang
is probably a girl named Jean Lake. Her dad was Ray Lake and she was in
band at that time. The Dunseith history book mentions Lakes on page 164.

Folks, All we need now is the identfication of that one guy.  Is that Jackie Spaeth or Mick Kester?  Gary

Picture L to R: 1956 DHS Band

Front row: Gayle Bedard, Caroleen Lider, Janice Lacroix, Marjorie Landsverk, Lowell Williams, Lois Hiatt.

Row two: Karen Woodford, Colleen Conroy, Gerald Lamoureux, Marlene Schneider, Duane  Woodford, Jackie Spaeth or Mick Kester?, Shirley LaRocque, Susan Brew, Connie Bedard, Joanne Kester.

Back row: Charlie Ericson, Ernest Kundart, Charlotte LaCroix, Barbara Bott, Ronnie Link, Lowell Leonard, Dwight Lang,

Curt Halvorson?, Don Conroy, Neva Haagenson?, John Morgan, Ellen Graff, BIG DAVE SHELVER, Jean Lake, DuWayne Lang

Pictures/message from Dick Johnson (68): 

Gary and Friends,

These are pictures Brenda took at the Bicentenial Parade in Dunseith in
1976.  I just thought it was nice to see the old stores the way they
were then. The old tan 52 Chevy was driven by Eugene ‘Gopher’ Counts and
the Model A was driven by Bob Leonard with Bernice Johnson inside and
Violet Campbell in the rumble seat. Thanks for posting these Gary!

Dick

From Willy (60) & Al-lyn Longie: 

Gary,

I don’t know if you are keeping a running head count but in case you are, we have booked 2 cabins as of today’s date.

Al-lyn (Willy’s wife)

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From Phyllis McKay (65): 

Thank you Gary for the up date on Dennis. I  talked with him at length last September. I also made the reservations for Patsy and myself for the cruise. It should be fun.

School is almost over with for this year. This Friday will be the last day of students. I have two days next week of class and then I will be officially through. I have a wonderful class this year and it will be sad to see them go on to fifth grade.

Phyllis McKay

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Folks, Phyllis is making reference to Dennis Dubois (63).Dennis does not have email, but I suggested to Bernadette, my wife, that she call Dennis and tell him about the cruise of which she did.  Dennis is very interested in the cruise and asked Bernadette for Phyllis’ and Margaret Metcalfe Leonard’s phone numbers.  He also asked for our travel agent (Gina’s) phone number. Dennis really aprecitated her calling him and wanted to visit. Gary

Dennis Dubois & Phyllis McKay – July 2007

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From Vickie Metcalfe (70):  & her sister Nancy Metcalfe Moreno (68):

Gary

“What I remember is Mom telling about how Axel Johnson would get poachers on School Section Lake & bring them to Grandpa Lamb’s while he would go get more. Grandpa fed them pancakes.” from Nancy Metcalfe Moreno(68)

” And I remember my dad  Cliff telling the story about Axel walking back and forth on top of the Metcalfe manure pile expressing to the older Metcalfe boys about the illegal practice of poaching of muskrats before  the season opening.   He was saying something like, “I  know they may have been poaching and  have no clear evidence, but if he did find the evidence he would turn them in.” With this story I heard, was that the pelts in question were under the manure pile which Axel was walking back and forth over while lecturing to the uncomfortable boys! I’ve often  wondered if Axel really knew  what the Metcalfe boys were up to and that it was his way of giving the “boys” fair warning he was on to them!”

I do recall our parents having utmost respect for Axel Johnson as a game warden & kind, honest, hard working man.  from Vickie Metcalfe

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Folks, I had the identification ofthe folks in these two pictures reversed with yesterday’s message.  Gary

May 1960 in the Garden Tap:

Margaret Hiatt, Joyce Evans, 
Joe Evans, Freddie Hiatt.–

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May 1960 in the Garden Tap:

Cliff Johnson, Joy Johnson, Bernice Johnson, 
‘half’ of Don Johnson.

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From Gerry Anderson (61):   and Rita Anderson (mother): 

Gary … My mother, Rita Anderson, received this email and asked me to respond.  My name is Gerald (Gerry) Anderson – we lived in Dunseith from the late 40’s to 1957.  I would have been part of the class of 1961.  I attended school in Dunseith from grade 1 – 9 and then attended Willow City Academy and moved to Jamestown, ND for grades 11 and 12.

The lone male picture with all the beautiful ladies is my brother Mark Anderson who died of cancer about 10 years ago.  He was 4 years younger and would have been in the class of 1965.

My mother does enjoy receiving the pictures as both my dad (Ed Anderson – deceased) and mother were very active in the community and owned the Gamble store.   …Gerry…

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Reply From Esther Murray Flemming (65): 

Gary:

Pictured next to Patty  is Mark Anderson.  Very nice picture.

Esther

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From Allen Richard (65): 

Bottom left is Mark Anderson

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Reply From Debbie Mongeon Cernohous (66): 

Hi Gary,

You may have heard from a few people on the graduates for the bottom row.  I think it is Mark Anderson, Patty Bogus and Me.

Great job with the emails, love looking at them when I get to work.

Debbie Cernohous (Mongeon)

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Top: Margaret Metcalfe (65), Dana Henriksen (66), Cecile Berube (65), Angela Berube (65)

Bottom: Mark Anderson (65),Patty Boguslawski (65), Debra Mongeon (66)

From Dick Johnson (68):

Gary,

I was just studying the old Dunseith postcard and noticed– almost no
trees! It has to be from 1935-36, the brick addition on the school was
done in ’35 and the City Hall is not there yet and I believe it was
built in ’37. The article from the fire says it was 31 years old when it
burned in 1968 so I can assume the picture is either late 1935 or 1936.
Just thought you might find this interesting. Thanks again!

Dick

Cliff Johnson, Joy Johnson, Bernice Johnson,
‘half’ of Don Johnson.

Top: Margaret Metcalfe (65), Dana Henriksen (66), Cecile Berube (65), Angela Berube (65)

Bottom: Mark Anderson (65)? or Dale Hoffman (64)?,  Patty Boguslawski (65), Debra Mongeon (66)