Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 272165
Title: Timothy M. White
Date: 2/10/1948-4/8/2026
Inscription/Marks: 2/10/1948
Summary: Timothy White passed away on April 8, 2026. A funeral service was held April 17, 2026, at St. George Catholic Church, Cooperstown, ND. Burial was at the Carrington Cemetery.
Timothy Michael White was born on February 10, 1948, to Thomas B. and Mary (Laber) White at Carrington Hospital, Carrington, ND. He was the last child in the family, a Johnny-come-lately, and had nieces and nephews his age. He spent his childhood on the farm in Birtsell Township with those nieces and nephews and cousins creating all kinds of fun, and probably some mischief, and honing their imaginations. They built a treehouse that lasted for years, camped in the trees, baked potatoes on the campfire, fought dozens of battles against dozens of imaginary enemies, climbed in abandoned cars, and scrambled up and down hay bales. When Tim got a BB gun, he and his niece promptly put a hole in the window above the propane tank! A favorite activity was fishing for bullheads using cane poles and worms and bringing home close to 100 fish for a huge fish fry.
The farm became his sanctuary and he spent summers there with friends enjoying the trees, the wheat fields, and the fruits of his large garden. Especially dear to him was the shrine built by his father for his mother. The brick shrine housed a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Tim surrounded the statue with flowers each summer.
Tim attended Carrington Public School from which he graduated in 1966. He was on the varsity basketball and football teams and ran track. Education was very important to his family. His mother, whom he dearly loved, wanted to be a teacher but was unable to do so due to family responsibilities. Each of her children went to college and became teachers and Tim followed suit. He signed his teacher’s oath of affirmation in November 1970 and graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor of arts degree in December 1970. He was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity serving as the chapter’s president in 1969.
He taught for three years in Carson, ND, where he enjoyed a brief cowboy stage. After teaching English in Cooperstown, ND, for two years, he was asked to coach junior high football. He and Rick Anderson were an unbeatable duo coaching for 40+ years, always putting kids first, encouraging kids to give it a try, exhorting athletes to give their best, and seeing the lessons learned through sports playing out in the athletes’ life successes. Coaching career statistics are 1 State champion in boys’ football, 1 State runner-up in boys’ football, 9 Region titles in girls’ track and field, 15 Region titles in boys’ track and field, 76 girls individual State qualifiers, 59 boys individual State qualifiers, 5 girls individual State Champions, 4 boys individual State champions, North Dakota High School Athletic Coaches Association (NDHSCA) Assistant Coach of the year (football; 2002), NDHSCA Spring Assistance Coach of the Year (2007-2008), and National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) finalist for Coach of the year (girls’ assistant coach; 2022), and NHSACA finalist for Coach of the year (girls’ assistant coach; 2025). His longevity in coaching was recognized by receipt of a Certificate of Merit from the NDHSCA as each milestone year was passed. He taught generations of students in the Cooperstown area with compassion, knowledge, and devotion. He retired from teaching in 2009 logging 37 years in the classroom.
In any health issue, Tim took the advice he gave to his students and athletes. He recovered from life-threatening influenza in the spring of 2009. When he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he met it head on and kept it at bay for years through a committed exercise routine. He didn’t like the change and decline that eventually came because of Parkinson’s disease, but he was stalwart in the face of the disease. He never once complained. He said Parkinson’s was a gift through which he could understand the sufferings of others.
Tim was guarded with whom he became friends, but once a friend, you received the very best of him in that friendship. Tim was always reading. His reading tastes were wide-ranging and eclectic as were his interests. Tim was an excellent ruminator. His pondering way created a reluctance to discard anything; he was a saver—not a hoarder. We who didn’t know him well over his lifetime, were left with a treasure trove (300 t-shirts; every report card; his piano lesson assignment book; his WE Fest press passes; a button “collection”; a key “collection”; his Iowa tests of basic skills reports; every pamphlet, ticket stub, map and memento from his trip to London and Ireland [2012]; and many cartoons, jokes, and sayings). We are richer for it.
He is survived by sisters, Mary Buchanan, Alice Steinman, and Illa Zink; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Glyndon and Dorothy White; brother, Thomas White; sister, Judy Herink; brothers-in-law, Ernest Steinman and Virgil Zink; niece, Mary Zink Caamano, niece, Patty White Deery; and nephews, Greg White and Mark Buchannan.
Red ID: FND_I_79657 Image ID: 559153 Image Notes: FND001 272165
