Blanche Viola Higgins

She was born on July 1 1923 in Coleridge Nebraska to a family of 4 brothers and 1 sister. She grew up not only as a coalminer’s daughter, but as a farmer’s daughter too.

She lived in Nebraska until 1937 when a drought forced them to leave. They moved to Mesa, Idaho, to a large Apple Orchard farm where they worked in the fruit. That is where she spent her teenage years. She met Alfred Higgins there at a dance. She told her mom about him and said that if he asked her to marry him, she would. Five months later in April 1942, they were married in Council, Idaho; his home town.

They lived there for four years; this is where they had their two sons, Bruce and Dan. Alfred was working in the saw mill there during the war and was frozen to the job.

Later they moved to Oregon. Alfred worked at the Toledo Oregon Mill. About a month later he was injured on the job and was unable to work for awhile. Later they moved to Gales Creek where they had a farm.

In 1949, Blanche was sick and was taken to a Hillsboro hospital that was privately owned at the time. While she was there, she fell out of the window and broke her neck. She spent 14 weeks there. When she was released they told her she would never walk again, but with God’s help and love from her family, she was able to walk with canes. As time went by, she had to use a walker, and finally a wheelchair.

They started a chicken farm for egg production. They had 3000 chickens per year. They all worked very hard there. There were happy times there.

In 1956, they sold the farm and moved to Portland, Oregon. In 1966, Alfred had to retire because of illness. They bought a camper and were able to travel and see a lot of the Western States. They spent one winter “snow-birding” in Arizona. They finally bought a house and settled in Madras, Oregon; a clear high country.

In 1971, Alfred and Blanche were baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by their son Bruce. Blanche was later able to attend the temple. Later that year Alfred passed away. Blanche said it was 29 very happy years with him.

Blanche continued to live there on her own. It was there that she lost her younger son Dan in 1987. She worked there as a volunteer at the hospital thrift shop one day a week for 15 years and at the Senior Center 3 days a week for 20 years. She worked in the kitchen, and as a receptionist. They were like a second family to her.

While she was there, a group of women adopted her as their mom, and helped her. First she thought it would be for a year but it turned out to be for Seven years, until she moved. They were very good to her.

Blanche got sick and could not live alone anymore. She moved closer to her son Bruce and his wife Raydelle. They both worked full time so she moved into a foster home close to them. It was nice being close to them and the grand children.

Later on when Bruce and Raydelle, and one of his daughter’s moved to Camas, WA, they asked her to go with them. So in Oct 2002 she moved to Camas, WA. This is the town where her only living brother and his wife lived, along with numerous nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved this area and she was able o see them all.

Blanche feels her life has been a wonderful learning experience with lots of happy and good times, as well as some sad and hard times, but she says that is what life is all about. So at 80 with God’s love and help and loving family and friends, she has a lot of blessings to count.

Viewing will be from 9:00 - 11:00 A.M. Wednesday June 13, at Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd. In Portland, with a Memorial Service to follow at 12:00 noon in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 18300 NE 18th St. Vancouver WA.