Lonnie Higgins

Lonnie Higgins, 71, passed into the arms of Jesus on Friday, March 13, 2026, while scuba diving a wreck in the Florida Keys. He was doing what he loved when he was called home to heaven.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Christy-Smith Funeral Homes, Larkin Chapel (2320 Outer Dr N) with a Prayer Service at 7:00 pm. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 10:00 am at Christy-Smith Funeral Homes, Larkin Chapel. His final resting place will be Memorial Park Cemetery.

Lonnie was born on August 29, 1954, to Pete and Colleen Higgins. He attended school first at Hinton and then at Leeds where he graduated in 1972.

Lonnie married his sweetheart Arlene Snyder on November 8, 1974. They celebrated 51 years of marriage last year. They made their home first in Sioux Falls and then moved to Leeds where they raised their three children.

Lonnie was a hardworking man who instilled a good work ethic into his children. He worked for Linweld for 32 and a half years both in Sioux City and Columbia, Missouri. He only missed two days of work during that time. He was a jack of all trades and could fix anything his wife broke. He loved power tools and had a large collection, which he used to do remodeling to his home in Leeds and the one in Columbia.

Lonnie loved traveling. Lonnie and Arlene became certified scuba divers and many trips to the Caribbean to dive. He was comfortable underwater exploring the reefs and many varieties of fish. He made a plan, when in his twenties, that he was going to get a motorhome and travel throughout the United States. In 2022, he made that dream a reality when they sold their home and hit the road in their motorhome. They visited many state and national parks and almost all 50 states. Traveling full-time, Lonnie and Arlene experienced many adventures. They met many new friends, and, to Lonnie, there were no strangers. He talked to everybody and enjoyed it immensely, meeting people from all over the world.

Lonnie is survived by his wife, Arlene; their three children, Bridget (Doug) from Buckner, MO, Patrick (Allison) from Rochester, MN, and Katie (Jonathan) from Sioux City; 10 grandchildren, Brayden (Emma) Martin, Sydney Martin, Marcy (Lynn) Duckworth, Jackson Higgins, Liam Higgins, Jasper Sullivan, Lincoln Sullivan, Shepherd Sullivan, Atlas Sullivan, and Dutch Sullivan; 2 great-granddaughters, Freya and Georgia; brothers, Marck (Anna) of Gillet Grove, IA, Robin Higgins of Amarillo, TX, and Brian Higgins of Sioux City, IA; cousins, Dave Davies, and Darla Davies Walker; mother-in-law, Ruth Snyder; and many nephews and nieces who all knew Uncle Lonnie as the tickle monster.

Lonnie was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Colleen; and sister, Judy.