Lelia Adeline Boucher Higgins was born April 14, 1923 at home near Dallas, South Dakota to Jacob and Libby (Moses) Boucher. She died December 14, 2015 at the Butte Nursing Home in Butte, Nebraska at the age of 92 years and 8 months.
Lelia graduated from Naper High School in 1941. She worked as a household assistant to multiple area families after graduation. This is when she met her husband, George Edward Higgins. They were united in marriage at Fairfax, South Dakota on December 16, 1944. Their first home was on the Edward Higgins homestead where they were in partnership with George's parents, until moving to an existing ranch by the Keya Paha River in the spring of 1951. On Valentine's Day, 1966 they moved to the ranch they purchased across the Keya Paha River west of Naper, Nebraska. To this union, four children were born.
Lelia enjoyed sewing, gardening, raising poultry, cooking, quilting, ceramics, decorating her home, playing cards, traveling and visiting with friends. She was an active member of the United Church of Christ in Naper.
Lelia is survived by her four children: Joan (Kevin) Waring of Marquette, NE; Edward (Lynette) of Mitchell, SD; Mary (Dan) Cerny of Salina, KS; and Lavern (Brenda) of Naper, NE; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; a sister, Alberta Breyer of O'Neill, NE; a brother, Jacob (Betty) Boucher of Boulder City, NV; and sisters-in-law, Wilma Audiss of Naper, NE; Iona Carstens of Norfolk, NE and a host of other relatives and friends.
Lelia was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 59 years; two brothers, Alfred and Robert; two sisters and husbands, Ella (Jack) Bentzen and Marge (Louie) Kortmeyer; In-laws, Everett Breyer, Lucille (Roy) Zehring, Dorothy (Alvin) Vraspir, and Darold Audiss.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 18, 2015 at 10:30 AM at the United Church of Christ in Naper. Burial will be in the Knollcrest Cemetery, Naper. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the services at the church.