Dale Steven Higgins

Dale Steven Higgins, 72, passed away at home in Walla Walla, WA, after fighting a courageous battle with colon cancer, from April 1, 2024, to January 18, 2026.

Dale Steven Higgins was born July 10, 1953, at an Army base in Richland, WA, to Albert and Ilene Higgins. Dale is the oldest of his siblings.

Dale has lived in Richland, Kennewick, Seattle, Finley, and Walla Walla, WA. When Dale was a teenager, he worked in a fruit orchard in Finley, WA. From the money he earned working in the orchard, he bought his first car. He also sang in the high school choir. Dale graduated from River View High School in Finley in 1971. After Dale graduated from high school, he joined the Navy and did his basic training in San Diego, CA.

When Dale was in the Navy, he did a lot of schooling in Key West, FL, and in the Great Lakes and Hawaii, to work the sonar on the nuclear submarine, and he had to know the whole submarine [the boat]. The nuclear submarine was in the Pacific Ocean. Dale was very proud of his military service; he was in the Navy for 6 ½ years. When he got out of the Navy, he had numerous jobs, including running a business repairing copier machines.

Dale loved to fish, do yard work, and help people, and he loved watching TV: Star Trek, Sports, History, Westerns, and submarine movies. His favorite movies are Dances with Wolves and The Hunt for Red October. He also loved musicals, and his favorite music was the Beatles and the Carpenters. On March 3, 2025, Dale saved a neighbor whose house was on fire.

Dale was married to his wife, Cynthia Higgins, for 34 years. For 12 years, Dale and Cynthia were assistant managers at apartments for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income residents. Together, they have had many journeys through the years and helped people along the way.

Dale is survived by his wife, Cynthia Higgins, of Walla Walla, WA; sisters, Pam Mayo (Mike) of Texas and Neva Reed (Tom) of Louisiana; brothers, Jerry Higgins of Pasco, WA, Darrel Higgins of Finley, WA, Barry Higgins (Dawn) of Kennewick WA, and Henry Higgins (Sandra) of Finley, WA; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Ilene Higgins; both of his grandparents on his father’s side, Albert and Esther Higgins; both of his grandparents on his mother’s side, Henry and Lena Bisterfelt; and many aunts and uncles.

A big thank you to all the excellent, hard-working doctors and nurses at Providence St. Mary Medical Center and Cancer Center, the Hospice team, and all the caregivers, too.

Memorial contributions may be made to Providence St. Mary Regional Cancer Center through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla, WA 99362. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.