This column is about physical happiness and sadness and spiritual happiness.
Kathy, my bride of 63+ years was welcomed into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at 4:45 am on October 9. For 22 years she battled Scleroderma and Rheumatoid Arthritis but she died from Parkinson’s. We believe her cause of death was Lewy Body Dementia which is defined as dementia with Parkinson’s symptoms. Lewy Body Dementia can only be determined by autopsy, the results of which we have not yet received. Kathy was a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, Army wife, a house wife, farm wife and a nurse for 27 years. For the past 8 years Kathy supported me mentally and physically in our work for Home on the Range. I miss her greatly and at the same time rejoice in that she no longer is asked to suffer and be strong on her own; she is renewed and strong in the presence of the Lord.
A rare event occurred at the Home on the Range site this past week-end (October 19th-21st) when someone named Higley slept in the Cabin for the first time in 138 years. Brothers Mike (Oklahoma City) and Greg (Arlington, TX) Higley, nephews 4 times removed from Brewster VI, spent two nights in the Cabin.
On Saturday Mary Lattin, Hays, took them on a tour of the “Highland Hills” and other historic sites in the County. Saturday night Mike and Greg were guests of Sharon Black at the hospital benefit. On Sunday morning I led a short devotional and Galen Larsen, Athol, led a small group of us in singing old Gospel songs. We closed with the singing of “Home on the Range”. I asked Mike and Greg to share their thoughts on what it meant to them as Higleys to spend a night in the famous Cabin.
Written by ElDean Holthus
