Blizzard of 1966 remembered
By Edna Sailor
Snowstorms are not surprising news in North Dakota. Snowstorms that shut down the state are. In 1966 it was just about this time of year, March 2 to 4 when 15 to 35 inches of snow driven at 70 to 100 miles per hour produced a deadly impact throughout the state.
Duty calls for some people even in the face of dangerous weather conditions. Dr. Herbert Wilson, a New Town physician back then exemplified the nature and commitment of those who felt duty and let little get in their way performing it. In 1966 "Doc" Wilson was on his way back to New Town from White Shield.
"I had to keep my hours. The weather didn’t seem that bad at first," he said.
Undeterred by falling and blowing snow just starting to pick up, "Doc" Wilson headed out toward New Town.
"I kept coming across snow banks across the road, but I kept on going until finally somewhere near Roseglen I saw a big drift. I figured I could make it through if I drove fast enough. So I hit the bank at about 60 miles per hour and buried my car there," he said and chuckled a bit.
"I don’t recall all the details of how someone came to find me there, but it took a farmer and a team of horses to pull me out of that one." he said and chuckled again.
