2 newspaper articles

# 1 - - Published in Pilot-Tribune, October 2, 1961

7 MEMBERS OF BLAIR FAMILY KILLED

ACCIDENT MONDAY AT 9 A.M.

ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON SOUTH EDGE OF FREMONT CITY LIMITS

Seven members of the Dallas Talkington family of eight were killed in a car-struck accident just south of the Fremont city limits this (Monday) morning at approximately nine o’clock.

The accident, reportedly, occurred when a semi truck, traveling north on Highway 275, collided with the Talkington car, which was traveling east and entered the highway. The car came to a stop in a ditch alongside the highway, with the truck tipping over onto the car and killing Mr. and Mrs. Talkington and five of their six children.

Neighbors of the Talkingtons, who lived at 1244 State Street, stated that they left Blair this (Monday) morning at approximately 7:30 o’clock. A reporter for the Fremont Guide & Tribune informed the Blair Newspapers that Mr. Talkington had made application for employment at a Fremont firm just prior to the accident.

Mr. Talkington was employed at the Blair Manufacturing Co. Mrs. Talkington had informed Don Mattox, Blair Elementary School principal, that her husband was trying to obtain a position in Fremont and if he did, the family would move to Fremont.

The Talkingtons moved to Blair Thanksgiving week-end, in 1960. They first lived in a former service station south of Blair on Highway 30.

The children, according to the Blair school records, are Roger 11, Diane nine, Dallas six, Dana Laverne five, Virgil two and Lowell, one year old. Roger was not along and therefore is the only survivor.

According to the records of Mrs. Frances Evans, Washington County Welfare Director, Mrs. Talkington’s mother is Mrs. Nellie Dhanens. It is reported that she moved to Fremont about two months ago.

The Talkingtons lived at Craig, Colo. from 1957 – 1960, moved to Fremont, and from there to Blair. Further information regarding the accident will appear in Thursday’s Enterprise.

# 2 - - Enterprise, October 5, 1961

SEVEN OF BLAIR FAMILY KILLED AT FREMONT MONDAY

All seven members of the Dallas Talkington family, of Blair, who were killed in a traffic accident at Fremont Monday morning of this week, will be buried at Craig, Colorado, it was announced Wednesday. The bodies left a Fremont funeral home at midnight, Wednesday, and services will be conducted by Craig by the Zoebel Funeral Home. Services are to be held at Craig at 2 P.M. Saturday afternoon. The Rev. Lee Schuler . of the Craig Christian Church will conduct the ceremony and interment will be made in the Craig cemetery.

The family was killed at 9 o’clock Monday morning when the Talkington car collided with a loaded grocery transport south of the Bell Street viaduct in Fremont. The driver of the truck, Fred Schwalm, of Omaha, was a veteran and experienced operator. As the vehicles approached, he attempted to swerve to avoid a collision. The loaded transport lost its balance and toppled over onto the car, which by then, was in the ditch alongside the road. The truck was reportedly carrying ten tons of groceries.

Dallas Harold Talkington, 46, is survived by his father, Otto E. of Craig, Colorado; five brothers, Charley, Floyd and Paul, all of Craig; Willis of Boston and Russell of Casper, Wyoming; three sisters, Margaret Vaughn of Littleton, Colorado, Ferma Blevens and Monty of Henderson, Colorado.

Dora Talkington, 29, is survived by stepfather and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Dhanens and a brother, Howard Path, all of whom live on Big Island at Fremont; three other brothers, Wallace Barnes of Peru; Alfred Barnes of Norfolk; and Leonard Barnes of Beatrice; and a sister, Nora Reed of Butte, Montana.

The Talkington children killed in the accident are Diane Kay Lewis, 9; Dallas Eldon Jr. 6; Dana Laverne 5; Virgil Lee 2; and Lowell, 1.

The only remaining member of the family is 11-year-old Roger Lewis Talkington, who by mere chance, happened to have stayed with his grandmother, Mrs. Bernard Dhanens over Sunday night. The family had been in Fremont Sunday, had gone home to Blair for the night and returned to Fremont Monday morning. The father, Dallas Talkington, had just applied for a job at the Hormel Packing Co. plant.

Meanwhile, considerable concern has been expressed for the future of young Roger. The Fremont Guide & Tribune has established a trust fund and is receiving contributions at this time. Late Wednesday, the fund had reached $190. Some money has also been received at the offices of the Blair Newspapers and this is to be turned over to the Guide & Tribune fund.

For the present the boy is to remain with his grandmother who lives on Big Island in the Platte River area. He will attend school at Fremont.

A $2,000 insurance policy, which carries double indemnity for accidental death, was carried on Talkington by the Blair Manufacturing plant where he had been working in Blair. This has proven to be a great help in caring for the final expenses of the family and the remaining money will also go into Roger’s trust fund.

The family had lived in Blair almost a year. They had come to Blair from Fremont where they had lived only eight months. Prior to that, they had lived at Craig, Colorado.