HIGGINS, Esther Berniece

Esther Berniece Natterlund Higgins, 91, formerly of Baker City, died on July 11, 2014 while residing at the SpringRidge Court Assisted Living facility in Charbonneau, Oregon. There will be a Rosary for Esther on July 20, 2014 at 6:00 pm at Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel and Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, July 21, at 10:00 AM at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City. Internment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery. A luncheon is scheduled to follow at the St. Francis Parish Hall. Esther was born October 25, 1922 in Mt. Harris, Colorado to Swedish immigrant parents, Johann Alfred and Signe Leontine Natterlund. The family setteled in Westfir, Oregon where her father worked in the lumber mill. She was one of four girls reared by her father when her mother passed away when she was five years old. Johann had promised Signe that he would keep the family together. Esther developed her value of family and home from his example. Esther’s first experiences in nursing were at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene before she enrolled at Good Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Portland. She met her future husband John while she was on her obstetrics rotation there. They were married in Baker, Oregon in July of 1944. Following Dr. John’s army service, they returned to his hometown of Baker, where he joined his father’s medical practice. During the 53 years in Baker, she and John raised eight children. Her career was important to her and when contacted by others, she would “special” a patient, providing individual care during a hospital stay. She also volunteered for the local Red Cross. Later Esther returned to hospital nursing and worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Baker as it transitioned to St. Elizabeth Community Hospital. She worked there until Dr. John needed an office nurse and she began her career working with Dr. John at the Higgins Clinic in 1976. Together they provided many years of medical care to Baker County residents. After Dr. John retired in 1996, he suffered a stroke and Esther lovingly cared for him until his death in 2002. As a nurse, she took care of strangers, as a mother to eight and grandmother of 26, she took care of her family and as a wife her love only grew bigger through time and sickness. In 2005 Esther moved to SpringRidge Court Assisted Living in Charbonneau to be closer to her family. She was lovingly cared for there. She was able to enjoy many more family dinners, birthdays and reunions while living near her children. Esther is survived by her children, John A. Higgins and wife Barbara, Timothy J. and his wife Paula, Mary Ellen Salomone and her husband Vincent, Patricia Ann, Catherine E. Schild and her husband Milton, Frances M. Hellings and her husband Glen and Thomas A. and his wife Ann, daughter-in-law Nancy L. Higgins and a large extended family who loved her. Esther is preceded in death by her husband Dr. John, son Matthew P. and grandchild Tyler J. Higgins. Contributions by be made to SpringRidge Court Employee Recognition Fund through Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Baker City, Oregon, 97814 therconline.com 17 July 2014