Individual Details
Jeanne DeVries
(26 Nov 1942 - 21 Nov 2015)
Jeanne (DeVries) Higgins, 72, of Spearfish passed away, Nov. 21, 2015, at her home in Spearfish.
Jeanne was born Nov. 26, 1942, in Northfield, Minn., to the Reverend John and Marjory (Test) DeVries. She was raised in South Dakota, graduating from Gregory High School in 1960. She graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1964. She then attended Garrett Theological Seminary. Jeanne married Gordon Higgins on Dec. 27, 1964. The couple lived in Illinois, where Jeanne worked at Mum Print Shop in Evanston, Ill., before becoming a certified teacher in the State of Illinois; she taught school in Manhattan, Ill. The couple moved to South Dakota where she taught school in Hot Springs and Winner. She returned to school and received an M.A. in counseling from St. Mary’s College in Minnesota. Jeanne worked with Missouri Shores Women’s Crisis Center in Pierre and also started “Time with Jeanne,” an in-service training program for hospitals, nursing homes and other organizations, that helped with stress management and communications skills. In 1989, Jeanne became a Diaconal Minister. She continued to help people by working as the Director of United Ministries at Black Hills State University from 1987-1995, Coordinator of Campus Support Services at Jamestown College from 1995-1996 and also as a Supply Pastor at the Cleveland United Methodist Church in Cleveland, N.D. In 1997, she became an ordained Deacon of the United Methodist Church. From 1997 to 1999, Jeanne served as a counselor and helped with Adult Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Huron. In 2000, she returned to Black Hills State University as the director of United Ministries for two years. She then served with the jail ministries for Lawrence and Meade Counties from 2002-2006 and for Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield, from 2006-2008. Jeanne enjoyed music and wrote the popular hymn, “It’s a Miracle.”
Jeanne is survived by her husband, Reverend Gordon Higgins; children, John (Mae Kilker) Higgins and Keren (Bruce) Ferrell; four grandchildren, Persephone Kilker, Xanthippe Higgins, and Bridger and Dalton Ferrell; and three younger siblings, Don (Sheila) DeVries, Eileen (Peary) Wilson, and Beverly Hempel.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015, at the United Church of Christ in Spearfish. Inurnment will take place at Black Hills National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to benefit the music department at Black Hills State University.
Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com.
Jeanne was born Nov. 26, 1942, in Northfield, Minn., to the Reverend John and Marjory (Test) DeVries. She was raised in South Dakota, graduating from Gregory High School in 1960. She graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1964. She then attended Garrett Theological Seminary. Jeanne married Gordon Higgins on Dec. 27, 1964. The couple lived in Illinois, where Jeanne worked at Mum Print Shop in Evanston, Ill., before becoming a certified teacher in the State of Illinois; she taught school in Manhattan, Ill. The couple moved to South Dakota where she taught school in Hot Springs and Winner. She returned to school and received an M.A. in counseling from St. Mary’s College in Minnesota. Jeanne worked with Missouri Shores Women’s Crisis Center in Pierre and also started “Time with Jeanne,” an in-service training program for hospitals, nursing homes and other organizations, that helped with stress management and communications skills. In 1989, Jeanne became a Diaconal Minister. She continued to help people by working as the Director of United Ministries at Black Hills State University from 1987-1995, Coordinator of Campus Support Services at Jamestown College from 1995-1996 and also as a Supply Pastor at the Cleveland United Methodist Church in Cleveland, N.D. In 1997, she became an ordained Deacon of the United Methodist Church. From 1997 to 1999, Jeanne served as a counselor and helped with Adult Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Huron. In 2000, she returned to Black Hills State University as the director of United Ministries for two years. She then served with the jail ministries for Lawrence and Meade Counties from 2002-2006 and for Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield, from 2006-2008. Jeanne enjoyed music and wrote the popular hymn, “It’s a Miracle.”
Jeanne is survived by her husband, Reverend Gordon Higgins; children, John (Mae Kilker) Higgins and Keren (Bruce) Ferrell; four grandchildren, Persephone Kilker, Xanthippe Higgins, and Bridger and Dalton Ferrell; and three younger siblings, Don (Sheila) DeVries, Eileen (Peary) Wilson, and Beverly Hempel.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015, at the United Church of Christ in Spearfish. Inurnment will take place at Black Hills National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to benefit the music department at Black Hills State University.
Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com.
Events
| Birth | 26 Nov 1942 | Northfield, Rice County, Minnesota | |||
| Marriage | 27 Dec 1964 | Rev. Gordon Francis Higgins | |||
| Death | 21 Nov 2015 | Spearfish, Lawrence County, South Dakota | |||
| Burial | Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, Meade County, South Dakota |  |  |
Families
| Spouse | Rev. Gordon Francis Higgins (1935 - 2021) |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
Notes
Burial
PLOT J_1326Endnotes
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