Phyllis Ann (Heitman) Higgins

Phyllis Ann Higgins passed away in her home in Hamilton, MT on July 5, 2019, at the age of 93 years, and is now with her Lord and Savior. "We are confident I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Cor 5:8

She was born on May 6, 1926 to Henry and Olive Heitman at Council Bluffs, Iowa, the second of four children. Phyllis was the descendant of pioneer great grandparents who helped settle the area of Council Bluffs, Iowa in the 1850's, who built the first Lutheran church in southwestern Iowa. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs and Zion Lutheran Church in Dexter, Iowa.

She was united in marriage to Gail Edward Higgins on January 13, 1946, soon after Gail returned home after his service in the US Army during WWII in Europe. Two children were born to this union, Philip Gail and Daniel Henry.  They moved to Earlham, Iowa in 1947 and began a farming and registered Hereford cattle operation, that would last until their retirement in 1980. She worked side by side with Gail and was as good as any man at driving a tractor or working cattle. In her later years she became an accomplished quilt maker, and many a little one went to bed with one of her creations.  She was a good cook and a great friend to a lot of people.

Everyone who knew her loved her. She cherished all the cards, letters, photos and phone calls she received from family and friends, and she loved to send them as well. She almost single-handedly kept the US Post Office in business!  She was the family historian and a great story teller of days gone by.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gail, in 1998, her son, Daniel, in 1963, her brother, Richard Heitman, and sister, Alice Brown.

She is survived by her son, Phil (Peggy) Higgins of Hamilton, MT; her sister Trudy (Tom) Smith of Marceline, MO; grandson Daniel Shawn Higgins of Canon City, CO; granddaughters Heather (Lance) Koss of Colorado Springs, CO; Amberly (Paul) Schechinger of Council Bluffs, IA; great granddaughter Meranda (Cass) Melin of Colorado Springs, CO; great grandsons Robert Martinez and Shane (Charity) Koss of Colorado Springs, CO; great-great granddaughters Rosalia Melin, Eleuia Melin, and great-great grandson Bear Koss of Colorado Springs, CO; and a host of nephews, nieces, and cousins; and Frank Padilla of Denver, CO, who was like a son to her. Phyllis loved you all.

Graveside funeral services will be held at a later date to be determined.  Burial will be under the care of the Cutler­O'Neill-Meyer-Woodring Funeral Home in Council Bluffs, IA. Local arrangements are under the care of the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton, MT.

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