Dolores Arlene Rother

Dolores Arlene Higgins was born August 1, 1936, in Dover Township to Ernest and Nina (Nichols) Higgins.  She attended Eyota Consolidated School, graduating in 1954.  After graduation she was employed by The Cooperative Oil Company.  She subsequently attended North Central College in Naperville, IL to study music.  She returned to Eyota and married John (Jack) Rother on June 8, 1957.  The couple moved to Hibbing, MN where Jack was employed as a mining engineer with The Hanna Mining Company.

Their three children, Mark, Judy and Bruce, were born in Hibbing and in 1966, they moved back to Eyota when Jack joined the faculty at the Rochester State Junior College and to raise their family.  Dolores and Jack were blessed with nine Grandchildren and eight Great Grandchildren.

Dolores’ life work was church music.  She began as a pianist in the Evangelical United Brethern Church at the age of 15.  While in Hibbing, she served the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church and the Pengilly United Methodist Church.  When the family returned to Eyota, she served as music director at Faith United Methodist Church until her health began to fail.  When in Eyota, she returned to school and received a Bachelor of Music Degree magna cum laude from Winona State University.  In her more than 50 years as music director, she served as pianist, organist and the adult and youth Choir Director.  In 1980, she established the church’s handbell choir which she directed for 34 years.  She also helped several other churches in the area establish handbell choirs as well.

Dolores is survived by her husband John; children Mark (Jodi), Judy and Bruce (Jayne); nine grandchildren – Ben Rother, Jackie (Brandon) Van Gundy, Daniel (Desi) Rother, Amanda (Nathan) Lightfoot, Ashley Hughes, Gerad Robling, Michael Robertson, Jennifer (Eric) Carpenter and Andrea Berg; and eight Great Grandchildren.  Her siblings, Randy Higgins, LeRoy (Mary) Higgins, Sister-in-law Carol Higgins and brother-in-law Richard Skillestad. Preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Nina Higgins, brother Duane Higgins, sister LaVonne Skillestad and sister-in-law Mavis Higgins.

The funeral service is Monday, February 10th, 11:00 a.m. at Faith United Methodist Church in Eyota with Pastor Laurie Boche and Mark Woodward officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Eyota. Visitation is Sunday, 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Schad & Zabel Funeral Home in Eyota and 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Memorials are preferred to Faith United Methodist Church music program.

Schad & Zabel Funeral Home in Eyota is assisting with the arrangements.