Lucille (Jacobson) Higgins Ranum July 12, 1929 - April 07, 2023 Lucille (Jacobson) Higgins Ranum, 93, of Dover, FL, passed away on April 7, 2023. Lucille was preceded in death by her 1st husband of 33yrs; Samuel Higgins, 2 nd husband of 32 yrs; Vernon Ranum, daughter; Diane (Michael) Cooper-Jones, sons; Robert Higgins & Thomas Higgins, son-in-law; Michael Cooper, Sisters; Ethel Pasko, Alice Solem, & LaVonne Schenke, parents; Jacob & Rose Jacobson. Lucille is survived by daughter; Brenda Ficken (Michael), sons; Richard Higgins (Maritza), Ernest Higgins (Lesa), grandchildren; Mychelle Russell (Mike), Jeffery Cooper, Nicholas Ficken (Barbie), Melissa Ficken, Stephanie, Chey, Richard Jr., Shawn, Thomas Jr., Rodney (Theresa), Joseph, & Tara Higgins, Sheryl Truhn (Alan), Kimberly Wandmacher (Craig) , Jessica Riehl (Don), Chris Remus. great grandchildren: Rebecca & Austin Russell, Logan, Sophia, & Savannah Ficken, Anthony & Maria Nicopolis Johnathan Dingman, Aaliyah, Kendall, Sasha, Claytan, James, Nevaeh, Thomas, & Bailey Higgins, Laura Leiter, Kayla McMaken (Tom), Kelly & Jenifer Truhn, Chelsey & Kelsey Wandmacher, many great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends (all of which she considered family). Lucille was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 12, 1929. She attended a one room schoolhouse that housed 1 st -8th grade. Lucille loved to dance. Any opportunity to dance she would be dancing whether at a party or in the kitchen while she was doing dishes and laundry. She also loved to tell your fortune with a deck of cards (9-A only). Something her mother Rose taught her how to do. On May 17, 1947, she married Samuel Higgins even though he was in Ancker hospital with a shattered leg in traction caused by a motorcycle accident. Sam’s sister Aleda insisted that the wedding would still go on. With the Pioneer Press photographing, the wedding ceremony took place at the groom’s bedside. Lucille & Sam raised 6 kids together. Family time was going to the cabin, any lake or traveling around the county in the camper truck Sam built visiting friends and family. Many weekends were spent at Sam’s brother Ed’s farm. Holidays always with extended family. It didn’t matter that nobody had a house to handle the large group, family still got together. When the youngest was in school Lucille got her driver’s license. From that point on she was always on the go. Lucille went to work cleaning offices and later worked as a Social Worker for the Hennepin County welfare department. Meeting and talking with clients to help sort out their needs and signing them up for services. When a client would not open the door to any social worker, Lucille was the one called in. Lucille was known as the one that could get the job done with the most resistant of clients. Lucille loved her job helping people. Unfortunately, her career was cut short when she started losing her eyesight. By the time the doctors figured out she had glaucoma, she was legally blind. She could still see, but due to the loss of her peripheral vision she could no longer drive or work in the office efficiently enough. Lucille then went back to cleaning offices, which became a blessing a short time later. God works in mysterious ways. On March 25, 1980, her husband of 33yrs passed away. Everything happens for a reason. In the fall of 1980, Lucille made a comment to her boss, George Cuthill, that she was very lonely and needed to find a man. George said he knew the perfect man for her. George was renting a room from Vernon Ranum. George introduced Vern and Lucille. They were a perfect match. Vern had been a bachelor for over 25yrs after his wife JoAnn died during childbirth. The first time Lucille went to Vern’s home, she noticed the framed Pioneer Press Article from May 17, 1947, of her hospital bedside wedding to Sam. Lucille asked Vern why he had that article framed. Vern responded that he was so inspired by the love of that couple, that he prayed that the Lord would help him find a woman like that someday. Lucille responded, “Well, you found her!” Vern was the angel sent by God to guide Lucille into the life of blindness. Vern married Lucille and joined her family of 6 children, their spouses, & 13 grandchildren on Valentines Day 1981. Lucille and Vern were so happy together. They loved, laughed, and traveled together like Recycled Teenagers. The only complaint Lucille had was that Vern was too slow. She said sometimes she had to draw a line to see if he moved. In 1985 they moved to Brandon, Florida following her 2 daughters who had moved there in 1981-82 and son, Tom who had married & stayed in Florida after the Navy. Her other 3 sons followed shortly after. She loved having all her kids and grandchildren around her. Lucille and Vern were reverse snowbirds going back to Minnesota every summer staying with her sister Alice and visiting family and friends. Lucille gradually over the years continued to lose her sight until she could no longer see any light at all in her mid-80’s. Vern and Lucille were a couple that stood out. Vern the tall handsome swede that dotted over his bride being her eyes and Lucille was the short feisty lady that was his ears keeping him moving. Anything that Lucille wanted, Vern would do. When Vern passed away in 2013 Lucille was so sad and lost. She missed him so much that she lost half her body weight (what a diet). One of her grandchildren asked her if she was going to find another man? She responded, “I don’t think I have another 30 years”!Over the next 10 years it took many people to fill Vern’s shoes of caring for Lucille. Other than her sight Lucille was still very healthy and self-sufficient. Only needing someone to be her eyes, transportation, and companion. Her son Tom, daughters Diane & Brenda, granddaughter Tara, nephew Jimmy, niece Barbara, &son-in-law Larry filled this need for many years. April 2019 Lucille had a major stroke leaving her to need a great deal more care. After only 8 weeks in a nursing home her daughters realized there was no nursing home that would be able to take care of their mother to their expectations. Lucille went back to Diane’s home until November 2019 when her daughter Brenda finished the construction of her new home and moved Lucille in with her family. Diane continued to help until her death Aug 26, 2020. Lucille’s health continued to decline, needing more care. Several people helped at this time; daughter: Brenda, son-in-law Mike, granddaughters: Tara, Melissa, Chelle, & Stephanie, Niece: Barbara, friends: Laura, Judy, Iris, and Diana-the person that took the last shift.Lucille’s family is very grateful to Diana and Empath Hospice for helping them through the last difficult 6 months.Everyone says it takes a village to raise a child. It also takes a village to care for our elderly! God has a plan. Everything happens for his reasons and in his time! May God grant us: The serenity to accept the things we cannot change. The courage to change the things we can, and The wisdom to know the difference Lucille’s passing is a true blessing. She was so ready for her wings. Praise God for honoring her wish to join all that left before her.