Lawrence J. "Larry" Higgins Obituary (1940 - 2016)

Lawrence J. "Larry" Higgins, 75 years of age, of Lincoln, formerly of Beatrice passed away at Bryan West Hospital in Lincoln Saturday afternoon, January 2, 2016. He was born on May 13, 1940 near Lewiston, NE to Carl and Nadine (Fisher) Higgins, and was a 1959 graduate of Beatrice High School. He and Margaret Garton were married on June 11, 1961 in Beatrice. Larry had been employed at Thompson Grocery, Dempster Manufacturing, Nebraska Soil and Conservation District, was a Deputy for the Gage County Sheriff's Department from 1969-1987, and was Unit Manager at the Nebraska Department of Corrections from 1987 until he retired in 2006. Larry had been a member of the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Beatrice, and was currently a member of the St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lincoln. He enjoyed restoring classic cars, attending car shows and swap meets, deer hunting, and spending time with his family and friends. Survivors include his wife Margaret of Lincoln; son Eric Higgins of New Orleans, LA; father Carl Higgins of Billings, MT; sisters Velma Joyce (George) of Heartwell, NE and Gayle Haase of Jefferson, IA; half brother Stanley Higgins (Tammy) of Cheyenne, WY; half sister Connie Nesbit (Jim) of Choteau, MT; sister-in-law Viola Garton of Beatrice; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother Nadine Higgins; step mother Marjorie Higgins; grandparents John and Bertha Higgins; brother-in-law Bub Haase; sister-in-law Belinda Higgins; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Memorial services will be at 11:00 AM Saturday, January 9, 2016 at the St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3930 South 19th Street in Lincoln with Reverend Joel Vogel officiating. A Celebration Reception of Larry's life will be at the Denton Community Center (Denton, NE) following the service. Private family burial of ashes will be at the Evergreen Home Cemetery in Beatrice. There will be no viewing or visitation as cremation has taken place. A memorial has been established to the family's choice with the funeral home in charge. Sign Larry's online guestbook at www.ghchapel.com. These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.