HIGGINS, Thelma A. (1915-2007)

HIGGINS, FRIEST, MILLER, COX, SCOTT, SCHOOLEY, HUGGANS, HOOPER, MELZ, TAPPER, HAGEN

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society (email)
Date: 8/8/2014 at 17:42:22

Thelma "Toni" Higgins
March 25, 2007

Thelma Ardis Friest was born on November 2, 1915, in Big Lake, Minnesota, to Adolph and Anna Friest. Thelma was nicknamed "Toni" by an uncle when she was very young. Toni went to grade school at the Grant Township School and graduated from Ledyard (Iowa) High School.

Toni married Harold Miller on December 4, 1935. They divorced. Toni married George Dale Higgins in Bossier City, Louisiana, on March 14, 1945. The couple farmed three miles east of Titonka until retirement. They moved into town in 1987.

Toni was active in the American Legion Auxiliary and the Titonka United Methodist Church. She was an accomplished quilter and gardener. She especially loved being with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Dale and Toni were "Winter Texans" in McAllen, Texas. Warm weather and good friends kept them returning for thirty years.

Survivors include children Betty Cox and husband Curtis of Trenton, Missouri; Tom Higgins and wife Amy of Titonka, Iowa; and Linda Higgins and her husband Brian Bushay of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Also surviving are six grandchildren: Dan Scott, Cindy Schooley, Jeff Scott, Christy Huggans, Luann Higgins and Heather Hooper; nine great-grandchildren: Allison, Angela and Joe Scott; Grant Schooley, Phillip and Patrick Scott, Olivia and Eli Huggans as well as Peyton Hooper and a great grandson to be born in July.

Also surviving are two sisters: Louise Melz of Swea City and Elida Tapper of Fort Dodge; brother-in-law Duane Higgins and wife Arlis of Titonka and sister-in-law Darlene Hagen, and many nieces and nephews.

Toni was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dale, who died on February 25, 2003, and three brothers, Marshall, Adolph Jr. and Lowell (Bud).

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