Esther Harriet Higinbotham

Esther Harriet DeGering Higinbotham

Esther Higinbotham passed away March 13, 2010 at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center due to complications from diabetes.

Esther Harriet DeGering was born on Nov. 20, 1920 to Albert and Ethel (Boner) DeGering at the -6 Ranch at Hat Creek, Wyoming. Esther was always proud of the fact that she was the only one of the seven DeGering children to actually be born at home. She was raised on the family ranch and attended the Parker-DeGering and Buena Vista schools through the 8th grade. During high school Esther moved to Lusk and worked for her room and board while attending Lusk High School. She graduated salutatorian of her class in 1938.

Esther attended the University of Wyoming and obtained her Normal Teaching Certificate in 1940. While at UW she enjoyed playing basketball and softball for the Varsity Villagers. Esther returned to Niobrara County and taught grades one through four for two years at the Buena Vista school near the family ranch. In 1942 Esther moved to Washington, DC to work for civil service during World War II. She then moved to Denver in 1944 where she worked for Fitzsimmons Army Hospital and later at the Denver Federal Center.

On Oct. 5, 1947 Esther married Bennett F. Higinbotham at the Congregational Church in Lusk. To this union three daughters were born - Denise, Joni, and Jaci. In 1951 Esther and Bennett bought their house in Denver and Esther lived there until she moved back to Lusk in 2007. Esther's biggest joys in life were being a fulltime mother, homemaker and later grandmother. She was an active Camp Fire Girl leader and room mother at school for all three daughters. Throughout the years, Esther always enjoyed spending time at the family ranch and in Lusk with her parents, brothers and other family members. She loved rock hunting, dancing, sewing, helping Bennett with his woodworking projects, monthly Pot Luck get-togethers, history and her family.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband, Bennett, of almost 50 years; her parents; her sister Nellie DeGering Higinbotham, and brothers Kenneth and Leonard DeGering. She is survived by her daughters Denise and Reed Smith of Lusk, Joni Wilson of Wichita, Kansas, Jaci and Mark Titchener of Cheyenne, Wyoming, grandsons Matt and Danny Titchener of Lincoln, Nebraska, Justin and Clay Smith of Lusk, granddaughter Erin Smith of Lusk; brother Milton and Rosaleen DeGering of Orem, Utah; sister Virginia Bryant of Laramie, Wyoming; brother John and Kay DeGering of Lusk and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 19th at 2:00 pm at the Congregational Church in Lusk with Reverend Mark Lohr, officiating. Memorials can be made to The Stagecoach Museum in Lusk or to the donor's choice. Arrangements are under the direction of the Pier Funeral Home.

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