Lagatha Sadie DeHoet Higbee was born in Pleasantville, Iowa, on October 3, 1913 to Alice and Garrett DeHoet. She began her schooling in Minnesota and upon moving back to Iowa, she attended schools in Warren and Marion counties.

On May 21, 1932, Lagatha married Orion Jasper Higbee at Eagleville, Missouri and to this union Beverly Ann, Barbara Joyce and Bonnie Lee were born.

Lagatha lived in several communities in Iowa and Blythedale, Missouri and was a wonderful homemaker and could make any house into a home for her family, whom she loved very much. Lagatha helped Orion farm for many years before moving back to Indianola in 1960, where she worked for Simpson College and then became a Warren County Home Health Caregiver.

Her main focus was her family and their welfare. Her faith and trust in the Lord began at an early age and matured throughout her teen and adult life until entering heaven on Friday, March 25, 2005. She served on many Sunday school and Church boards, and along with Orion, enjoyed serving as a delegate to the annual Iowa Christian Union State Councils for many years. She was a charter member of the Indianola Christian Union Church of which she was a member until her death. Lagatha had many hobbies and interests of which a few were: sewing, quilting, crocheting, embroidering, gardening (both vegetables and flowers), her cooking was absolutely delicious, like fried chicken, homemade potato salad with homemade cooked salad dressing, homemade pies and cakes, cinnamon rolls with rich cream topping, homemade popcorn balls and candy, and any other dish to her families liking. Lagatha loved to read and do word search finds. Each morning before starting her day, she had her devotional time with the Lord. She loved to travel and was able to travel from the west coast to Florida, which was her last big trip and that was to Orlando Florida for her 89th birthday with the entire Kern family. She loved to go dancing with Lawrence Walk each Saturday evening, and Dr. Phil could solve any problem that anyone had. Lagatha's three favorite men in her life after Orion's passing were in this order: Pastor Ed Grant, Dr. Phil, and Lawrence Welk.

Lagatha loved people, and was a good friend to many throughout her 91+ years on this earth. She always found the good in each person she met.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Orion of 67 years and missed him dearly.

She is survived by her 3 daughters and their husbands, Beverly and Bill Dickerson of Indianola, Barbara and Tom Kern of Monticello, IL, and Bonnie and Bob Miner of Indianola; 8 grandchildren, DeeAnn and Tim Lantz of Fairfield, Shelly and Boyd Wakeman of Indianola, Cristy and Rick Hamblin of Cedar Rapids, Chuck and Gwen Kern of Clinton, IL, Laura and John Gillespie of Bement, IL, John and Julie Kern of Venice, FL, Becky Miner of Des Moines and Beth Dittmer of Indianola; 17 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends. Lagatha was so looking forward to her first great great-grandchild to be born in June. She is also preceded in death by her parents, Alice Dunn and Garrett DeHoet; her step-father, Ed Dunn; brother, Bill DeHoet; and 2 sisters, Gladys Van Antwerp and Francis Doner.

Visitation will be held 2:00 – 8:00 p.m., Monday, March 28 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola where family will be present to greet friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Memorials may be given to the Indianola Christian Union Church for the fellowship hall or to Mercy Hospice in Johnston.