Bob Lind column: Neighbors: California reader recalls cousin the 'Hormel' girl

Diane Aune lives in Sacramento, Calif. She is a gung-ho fan of the Sacramento Kings, and so was in the pits when the Kings lost out in the National Basketball Association playoffs recently.

But she managed to survive that tragedy due in part to a story in Neighbors about her first cousin, Donata Nellermoe of Fargo.

The story was about the Hormel All-Girl Caravan which traveled the country in the 1940s and '50s, putting on musical programs and promoting Hormel products. Donata, then of Abercrombie, N.D., was a member.

Diane says she was "thrilled to see and read" the column about Donata.

"I remember the day she left Fargo on the train to join this group," Diane writes. "I was in Abercrombie for a summer visit. I can still see her boarding the train. Tears flowed."

Diana thinks the world of her cousin. "I have had the privilege to know her, her family, grandkids; I spent time with her in Europe and in Minnesota at her lake home. We talk on the phone often. What a gift she has been to all."

Diane is the daughter of Robert F. Johnson of Abercrombie. Donata is the daughter of Robert's sister Evelyn Arnhalt.

Donata indeed is a remarkable woman.

Now if she could only play center for the Kings.

Remember Claire?

Diane also writes that her father often spoke of a Fargo barber named Claire Myron. Does that name ring any bells?

Remember Sam?

Now, here's feedback on a column about the old Comstock Hotel in Moorhead, and a poem written on the hotel's stationery that was found recently.

The poem was written by Sam Kaplan. The question posed in the column: Who was Sam Kaplan?

Prudy Erickson of Bethany Homes in Fargo writes that she met Sam in the middle 1930s.

She says his relative, who she thinks perhaps was his uncle, ran a bar on Center Avenue in Moorhead.

"Sam would probably be 95 or more if he were still living," Prudy writes. "He was an interesting guy."

Remember Doc?

Finally, more feedback on columns about the Fargo Flying Service operated by "Doc" Vinje in the '20s and '30s.

A Fargo man who wishes to remain anonymous sends along a brochure published by that company.

It's dated 1928. It reads:

"Aviation is ready; are you?

"3,000 new airplanes are being built this season. Are you going to fly one?

"Fargo Flying Service and School of Aviation has already soloed a new pilot this spring. More in the making. Air instruction under E.M. Canfield, experienced on seven types of planes (and the brochure lists his transport and international pilot licenses).

"Fargo Flying Service uses only government approved type airplanes.

"Flying training $25 per hour; $200 to guarantee to make you a pilot.

"$3 for a flight; $5 for a joy ride; 25 cents per mile air taxi service.

"Aerial photography; aerial advertising.

"Flying off Hector Airport.

"Phone 3548.

"25 Ninth St. North, Fargo."

Nothing is said about accumulating frequent flyer miles, however.

If you have an item of interest for this column, mail it to Neighbors, The Forum, Box 2020, Fargo, ND 58107; fax it to (701) 241-5487; or e-mail rlind@forumcomm.com