Talmage (Tal) Whitmire

Talmage Whitmire, 79, passed away suddenly August 7, 2019. 

The burial and military services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 14, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Tal was born in Vidor Texas to Artie Mae (Humberson) and Lee Whitmire.  After graduating high school in Vidor Texas, he joined the Army. While stationed in Tacoma, Washington, he met the love of his life, Karen (Schwinkendorf),  and they were married in 1961. 

Together they had three children Burton (Lee), Cindie and Talmage (Joe). Lee was born in Tacoma Washington while Tal was in the Army. After his service, they moved to Vidor where both Cindie and Joe were born. His father taught him mechanics which became his greatest past time.

Tal was always building something with an engine from go-karts to motorcycles to hot rods.

He loved the outdoors fishing, shrimping and crabbing. He also enjoyed riding motorcycles. In the early 70s, Tal and Karen owned a Chaparral motorcycle dealership where he shared his love for motorcycles with friends and family.

Tal loved his family of five brothers and three sisters and kept in close contact with them, even when he moved to North Dakota.

In the 80s, he worked for the North Dakota DOT as a mechanic in Bismarck and later as a supervisor of the Sheridan County DOT division. They moved to McClusky and then to Denhoff and lived there for many years before moving to Lincoln ND.

Tal loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much. He was always building or improving on motorized toys for them to ride and play with.

Tal is survived by his children, Lee (Sheri), Cindie (Hoge) and Joe (Jean).; nine grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Roy and Clinton; and many nieces and nephews.

Tal was preceded in death by his wife Karen; mom, Artie Mae; dad, Lee; three brothers, Alan, Nathan, Burton; and three sisters Pearl Ann, Hazel and Betty Jean.