Mina C. Higgason

Mina Claire Higgason, age 89, passed away on December 31, 2013 in the Alzheimer’s unit at Golden Living Center in Cozad, Nebraska. Mina was born to Margaret Claire (McCool) and Charles Towner on February 18, 1924 at Lakeland (Baronett) Wisconsin. The family later moved to South Dakota, and finally to Merino, Colorado, where she graduated from Merino High School. She married V. A. McDowell and they had two daughters together, Linda and Peggy, while living in Denver. She subsequently moved back to Merino and went to work at the Ford Dealership in Sterling. She married David Elmer Higgason on August 9, 1951. They farmed in the Roosevelt community and were blessed with two daughters, Diana and Terry. Along with her farming activities, she worked at the Roosevelt school as a cook and later at the Logan County Hospital as a switchboard operator. She also worked as a waitress at the J&L Café, then at the Great Western Sugar factory in the beet lab. She became the foreman of the lab, and eventually a lab clerk, working with the chemist in the factory. She and Elmer moved to Merino in 1974 where she took on the responsibility of Merino Town Clerk. She retired from that post in 1994. Mina enjoyed gardening and sewing and of course spending time with her family. She also loved to cook. She was a caring person who could always be called on to contribute a delicious creation to any worthy cause. And she would often take one of her delicacies to a friend or family member just because she wanted to brighten their day. She did not believe in gossiping and would say “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything”. She always had a smile for everyone, even when life was hard. Mina was very involved in the community. She belonged to the Rebekahs and was involved with many activities of the Merino Methodist Church. After leaving Merino, she moved to Cozad, NE where she lived in an apartment near Diana. Mrs. Higgason was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; infant daughter, Terry; grandson, Michael Toner; and sister, Patricia Myers. Survivors include her three daughters, Diana Toner and husband Dean of Cozad NE, Linda Beauchamp and husband Dan of Marquette MI, and Peggy Ball and husband Keith of Sterling; 6 grandchildren; 6 step-grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; 1 great-great granddaughter and 1 great- great grandson. Memorial services will be Monday, January 6, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Wildwood Bible Church (the old grade school) in Merino, CO with Rev. Matt Woodward officiating. Inurnment will be at Riverside Cemetery at Sterling, CO. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Mina’s memory and can be sent to Berryman Funeral Home, PO Box 42 , Cozad, NE 69130. Condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com. Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad is in charge of arrangements.