These stories can also be heard on Sunday mornings around 10 am on WILD 102’s “Look Back in Time” program. Each week’s radio story will be posted here on our website.
Weekly radio stories are researched, compiled, and read by Sheila Winstead, RCHS Board Member.
December 10, 2023
At the Roseau County Museum’s research area, I was looking at newspapers from 60 years ago. These letters to Santa
Claus appeared in the Roseau Times-Region around Christmastime 1963. You might remember some of the toys they
were asking Santa to bring.
Dear Santa, I wish you would bring me a Chatty Baby or a set of 3 play wigs or a sewing machine which is called a Sew
Master. For my little sister Wyann, She would like a new pair of gens (jeans), or one of the following things: deskette or
doll hair dryer set. And my little brother Dayton would like a truck. I am writing for my little sister and brother, too. Yours
truly, Lucille and Wyann and Dayton Hulst
Dear Santa, Please bring me a Ken and Midge doll. Sarah Weston
Dear Santa, Would you please bring me and my brother Robin, each a smoke Gun, or a Bowling Set, and an Etch-A-Sketch,
or whatever you can bring us. We have been good boys all year. Yours truly, Dudley and Robin Hulst, Roseau, Minn.
Dear Santa, I am 4 years old and my brother is 3 yrs old. We would like any kind of toy to play with. Merry Christmas
Santa. Arlan and Leland Loken Roseau, Minn. Route 1
Dear Santa Claus, I would like to have a Barbie Doll for Christmas. One that has 25 pieces of cloths (clothes). One that you
can get at Gambles. Marie Dahlgren Roseau, Minn
Dear Santa Claus, I would like a pair of twin dolls called Happy and Nappy. I would also like a pair of skates. I have been
pretty good. Thank you. Miss Cindy Gunderson Roseau, Minnesota, c/o Robert Gunderson
Dear Santa, Please send me a big Ken doll to go with my Barbie doll outfit. Please send a swimming suit with it I would
also like a teddy bear. A big pink one please. I would also like a puck and hockey stick for my friend Larry. Thank you, Judy
Ganyo Warroad, Minn.
Dear Santa, We want a spin top and a wind-up tractor for Micheal who is two years old and is in the hospital. Joan is 8
months old and wants a nice rattle. Lyle wants a telephone and a puzzle. Luella wants a gold chain and cross and a puzzle.
Thank you and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Santa. Luella (age 7) and Lyla (age 6) Gust
Dear Santa Claus, Please bring me a big Bruiser. From Roger Wiskow
Dear Santa Claus, I want a Barbie doll, Santa Claus. I do hard work in school all week. I am a good girl at home. I help my
mother. From Joslyn Hulst
Dear Santa Claus, Please bring some cowboy boots and some cowboy pants and a cowboy shirt. From Craig Baumgartner
Dear Santa Claus, Please bring me a bicycle and a chatty doll and some skiis and a jack-in-the-box. And some dishes
please. Kathy Baumgartner
Dear Santa Claus, May I please have a Ester sketch for Christmas, please, Santa Claus? Love Susan Sorteberg
Dear Santa Claus, Please bring me a Barbie doll and some clothes. Because I have a Barbie gown and I don’t have a Barbie
doll. With Love Beverly Ammerman
Dear Santa Claus, Please bring me a Beanny Boy. Would you give me a penny, the poodle and a toy train. With love,
Michael Scott Wicklander
Dear Santa Claus, Please bring me a watch for Christmas. Because I want to tell time. It is pretty much but you don’t have
to bring it if you don’t want to. Well I have to go now, so good-bye. Your friend, Lee Ann Holm
Dear Santa Claus, May I please have a cowboy suit? The color I would like is black. I would like cowboy boots, too. Thank
you. Bruce Melby
Dear Santa Claus, Please give me a Ken doll for Christmas and a Midge Doll. December 16, 1963. Lynn Carlson
Dear Santa Claus, Please bring me a Chatty baby. I would like it if you would bring my baby brother a toy horse. He can
not write. He is 4 months. From Laurel McMillin
Dear Santa, I have been a good boy. I am 3 years old. I want a Big Bruiser Truck, grader, a snow thing to go outside,
wagon, “cat-up” and low boy truck to haul cat-up. Love, Mike Solberg, Badger, Minn.
Dear Santa, I have been a good girl. I am 5 years old. I would like to have a Chatty Baby doll. There will be a snack on the
table. Please come in the door because our chimney is too little. We will leave the door unlocked. Love, Lynette Solberg,
Badger, Minn.
Dear Santa Claus, Please bring me Miss Echo and Please bring me some Clothes for her. Please bring me Barbie and Ken.
Please bring me and my Brother a puppy. I want a puppy because I am in school and He has Nothing To Do. Mary
Backlund
Dear Santa, Will you give me a guitar? Please Santa Claus. I will see you Santa Claus, and Please give me skate guards. I
love you Santa Claus. From John Craig Johnson. My address is 1001 Center St E, Roseau, Minnesota 56751. Thank you.
Dear Santa Claus, My name is Janet Anderson and I am five years old. For Christmas I would like a suitcase and a buggy. I
have been a good girl. Thank You. Love, Janet
Dear Santa, If you have enough when you get to our house will you please leave me a pair of skies or a sled. Jerry
Abrahamson, 1002 2 nd St. S. E.
Dear Santa Claus, Please bring me some Barbie and Ken clothes. I want it because I have a Barbie and I think I am going
to get a Ken doll. Nora Johnsonn
Dear Santa Claus, I would like to have a doll stroller for my dolly. I hope you have good luck on your trip. I wish you and
Mrs. Santa Claus a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Fay Ahnema, Pencer, Minn 56726
Dear Santa Claus, Please would you bring me an electric train because I want to play with it on Saturday and Sunday.
From David Alberg
Dear Santa Claus, Please bring me a new Bicycle and please Bring a real horse. Love, Danny Ecklund
Dear Santa, Could you please bring me a bulletin board and a movie set, you will find my stocking hanging in the dining
room, can you stop and have coffee and cookies here, they will be on the table. I have been a good boy all year so I hope
you will come to see me. Gregory Billberg age 6
Dear Santa Claus, Please Santa Claus bring me A train bicy(cl)e and an army suit and an army gun. Deland Broten
Dear Santa, My name is Kimberline and I am 6 years old. For Christmas this year I would like it very much if you would
bring me a Chatty Baby Doll. I like that kind of a doll because they talk. Thank you Santa, Bye-Bye, Love Kimberlie Ann
Palm
Dear Santa, If you have enough when you get to our house will you please leave a dump truck or a tractor. Thank you.
You, Lee Abrahamson
Dear Santa, I would like a magic Etch a Sketch screen. I have a little sister and I think she would like a pull toy that would
sque(e)k. Thank you. Your friend Clyde Falk.
Dear Santa, What I want for Christmas is 2 things. First I want the children across the seas to get presents. For me I want
my watch fixed and brought back to me. And maybe a game. Please Santa I’ve tried to be good. Sincerely, Mary
Haslerud, Roseau, Minn. PS we have a fireplace in the living room now so it will be easy to get in our house.
Dear Santa, My name is Timmy Lund and I am five years old. I have a sister, Wendy who is three. There are an awful lot
of toys in the Sears Roebuck Toy Catalog that I would like but I guess I would be real happy just to get a hockey game, a
phonograph, and an army set. My sister would like a big buggy for her new doll. Thank you Santa, and I sure hope your
reindeer don’t get stuck. Timmy Lund, Roseau, Minnesota. PS My Mom had to write this for me.
Thank you to 
(www.roseauonline.com) for letting us share our county’s history with your listeners by donating air time, studio time, and production staff every week.