D ebra Ann Higgins, 72, of Bisbee, ND, passed away suddenly on March 26, 2025, in her home on the farm peacefully after a long painful illness. A visitation will be Friday, April 4, 2025 from 5-7 pm along with a family service at 7 pm at the Rock Lake Community Center in Rock Lake, ND. Services will be held on Saturday, April 5, 20 25 at 10:00 am at the Rock Lake Community Center in Rock Lake, ND with visitation one hour prior to the service.

Debra, affectionally known as Deb or Debbie, was born on February 2, 1953, in Cando, ND, to Einar and Helen (Snavely) Grande.  She grew up on a farm between Bisbee and Rock Lake and attended the Rock Lake Public School, graduating in 1971. Deb graduated on a Friday and started working at First Bank of Rolla the following Monday where she worked until November 1974.

She was united in marriage to Daniel Higgins on July 7, 1972, at All Nations Lutheran Church in Rock Lake. They lived in Rolla until they moved to the Grande farm in 1974 and began farming. Besides working on the farm, Deb also worked at odd jobs such as taking the U.S. Census and collecting data for the Senior Center in Devils Lake.  In 1990, Deb started working at the Rock Lake Public School as an assistant cook and bus driver.  When she became head cook, she was well known for the great food she produced by adding ingredients that the kids said they hated not knowing that that was what made the food taste so much better. She often made food from "scratch" rather than commercially made food, at the school and especially at home. Deb was well known for the excellent meals and used to even take snacks along for the sports "kids" to eat after practice on the rides both to and from practice in Rolla. She was also the primary caregiver for their disabled daughter, Vicki until her passing in 1997.  In addition, she was the secretary at All Nations Lutheran Church from 1991 – 2002 as well as the receptionist at Towner County Medical Center Rock Lake Clinic from 1997 – 2000.  In 2003, with the impending Rock Lake school closing and job loss as cook, school bus, and sports bus driver to Rolla, Deb had just turned 50 and considered herself too old to get a good job. But after much pressure from Dan, she applied and began working at Dakotah Bank in Rolla as a Customer Service Representative until she retired due to health issues 15 years later. She greatly loved the job and was a real people person, loving her customers and especially her "Golden Girls" co-workers, continuing the relationship by getting together often long after retiring.  Deb was also a Girl Scout Leader for many years which she greatly enjoyed doing helping young girls learn new things and grow.

Deb greatly enjoyed baking and cooking for her family and gatherings. She had a real old-fashioned knack of not measuring the ingredients, just knowing how much to use and as always what else to add to make the end product taste so good. She could taste something and would say exactly what is missing or has too much of in the food. Her caramel-rolls and caramel popcorn were always a great hit and she always produced quite the variety of Christmas goodies and is well known for her "Debbie Dip".  Fortunately, she has passed on her cooking skills to her kids as well as some old-time recipes and tricks of the cooking trade. She made cooking so easy, effortless and natural that it was frustrating to the family to follow in her footsteps. Deb was an excellent seamstress; making many clothes including several of her own prom dresses and many quilts.  She participated in a state wool contest in high school where she made her own dress.  Another one of her favorite pastimes was reading and enjoying leisurely country drives around the area with Dan.  Deb always had her Kindle with her and would read any time she had a free moment.  She also enjoyed watching TV shows and movies.  In recent years, Deb and Dan have developed a passion for target practice from their deck.

Together, Deb and Dan had five children: Vicki, David, Jolien, Randy, and Brent.  Much time was spent caring for their handicap daughter, Vicki.  Instead of family vacations, time was spent traveling for doctor appointments to Grand Forks, Fargo, Minneapolis and Rochester, but they always made the best of each trip.  The family was able to take a memorable trip to Washington, D.C., courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation to meet President Clinton in the White House and tour all the monuments. The grandkids meant everything to Grandma and she enjoyed playing any game with them except Monopoly. Chicken Foot was a popular game.

Deb is survived by her wonderful husband of over 52 years, Dan, who helped her through it all and was the rock of their marriage, children, Jolien (Chuck) Schwan and their children Jaiden and Victoria of West Fargo, ND; Randy (Tara) Higgins and their children Ethan and Jaxon of Fargo, ND; and Brent (Dana) Higgins and their children Sophia, Scarlett and Daxton of Red Wing, MN.  Deb is also survived by her brother John (Judy) Grande of Regina, Sask., sister Gloria (Ron) Mitchell of Andover, MN, and sister Lori (Jim) Heintz of Union, WA, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and their families.

Deb was preceded in death by her parents, Einar and Helen Grande, and her beloved children Vicki and David Higgins.

Burial will be in the family plot at All Nations Lutheran Cemetery, Rock Lake, ND next to her two children.