Karen M. Whitmire

Karen Margarite (Schwinkendorf) Whitmire, 77, Lincoln, ND, passed away October 10, 2018, after a brief struggle with cancer surrounded by her family. Karen was born in New Salem, ND, to EJ and Emma (Buman) Schwinkendorf. She met the love of her life, Talmage, at the age of 20 in Washington while he was in the Army; married in 1961, they shared 57 years together. Together they had three children, Burton (Lee) Whitmire, Cindie (Whitmire) Hoge, and Talmage (Joe) Whitmire. Lee was born in Tacoma, WA, while Tal was still in the Army. Karen and Tal moved to Texas, where Tal was born and raised, and then Cindie was born. Not long after, Joe was also born in Texas. In the 70s, they moved to Bismarck to be closer to Karen’s family. Karen loved NASCAR, especially Dale Earnhardt, gardening, riding horses, shooting guns, cooking, playing cards with her mother Emma, working on puzzles, and loving her grandchildren. She found her career at the age of 50, graduating from the police academy and becoming a Deputy Sheriff with Sheridan County Sheriff’s Dept. in McClusky, ND-a job she loved doing. Karen is survived by her husband, Tal; her three children, Lee (Sheri), Cindie, and Joe (Jean); nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; her mother, Emma Dickey, Bismarck; two sisters; many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nephews, and nieces. She was preceded in death by her father; one brother, Lee Schwinkendorf; and one sister, Toni Rae Schwinkendorf.