Gerald V. Higgins Sr., 92, of Wessington Springs passed away Friday morning March 25, 2022 at the Weskota Manor Avera Nursing Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, April 1, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Visitation will be Thursday March 31 from 5-7 p.m. at the church with a scripture service at 7 p.m. Burial will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery.
Jerry was surrounded by family members as he left this world to be with his Lord in eternity.
Jerry was one of seven children born to Michael and Osta (Lovell) Higgins. He was born on July 22, 1929, on a small farm south of Alpena, SD. Jerry would often reminisce about the many fond memories of his life on the farm. He also would share stories of the hard work it took to live on a farm and make ends meet during the 1930s. The difficulties of farm life during the 1930s were exacerbated for Jerry’s family- and especially for him as a young boybecause of the death of Jerry’s father in 1934. The difficulty this unfortunate event created was the foundation for becoming a successful businessman.
Jerry moved to Huron, SD, and graduated from Huron High School. He worked at O.P. Skaggs and had a fondness for chocolate ice cream. Every day after work, Jerry would go to Spargos Drive Inn for a dish of chocolate ice cream, but the truth-of-the-matter is that a young waitress there caught the eye of the 19-year-old, cigar-smoking Jerry. He apparently caught her eye, too, because on June 9, 1948, Jerry Higgins and Betty Link were united in marriage, lasting 73 years until Jerry’s passing.
Jerry and Betty started their life together in Huron, SD. After a few years, they moved their young family to Wessington Springs, SD, when Jerry and his older brother, Ray, opened a grocery store in June 1953. That first grocery store was the start of a 50-year presence on Main Street, Wessington Springs, encompassing a furniture and carpet store that eventually also added hardware, then transitioning back to a grocery store again, and ending with the Variety Store. Jerry was very active not only in the business community of Wessington Springs, but also the Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club, which eventually became the Springs Area Community Club (SACC). In June 2003, Jerry retired after 50 years of working as a businessman in Wessington Springs. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.
After retirement, Jerry and Betty spent time volunteering at the SACC Consignment Store and enjoying visits from their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and spending time with each other.
Jerry was preceded in death by his mother and father, all of his siblings and their spouses, all but one of Betty’s siblings and their spouses; his daughter Kathleen; one daughter-in-law, Tammy Higgins. Jerry is survived by his wife Betty; six children, Jerry (Maggie) Higgins of Wessington Springs, Terri (Mike) Mebius of Wessington Springs, Jean (Randy) Shultz of Wessington Springs, Tim (Lotus) Higgins of Arlington, SD, Steve (Toni) Higgins of Rapid City, SD, and Patti (Ed) Fiegen of Brookings, SD; sister-in-law, Marjorie Campbell of Aberdeen, SD; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
The 73-year marriage of Jerry and Betty was blessed with seven children, 18 grandchildren, and 27 great grandchildren. Jerry was a husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend who enjoyed a life welllived.
In lieu of flowers, the family will use memorial funds for community improvement projects in Wessington Springs.