Grace I. Hites

Grace Irene (Higdem) Hites passed away January 18th at the age of 96 at Lifecare Manor in Roseau.  Private graveside services will be held at a later date at the Moe-Rose Cemetery in Roseau.

Grace was born on June 9, 1919 to John and Anna (Owern) Higdem in Fox, MN.  She was a baptized and confirmed Lutheran and a long-time member of the Moe Lutheran church.  She was always available to help out at Moe, living next door to the church for many years until Moe re-located after the flood of 2001. 

She married Harry Hites on February 18, 1936 and they had three children – Randy, Wayne and Bonnie. Grace worked at several jobs in the early years but spent most of her time as a full time homemaker.  Some of her best times were spent with great friends, including having coffee with Inga Wilberg & Sophie Gislason as well as spending countless hours quilting with Darlene Housker.

She was a devoted wife during her husband Harry’s long illness spanning several years before his death in 1977, as well as visiting her sister Gladys and her husband and daughter, Ralph Wilson and Sylvia Wilson, during their illnesses.  And as her children all became ill, she was the always there for them, visiting as much as she could. 

Family meant everything to Grace, as well as any stray animal that ventured onto her back porch.  She had house cats that were treated like kings – Sam, Kennedy, and Annie were a few of the favorites, plus a whole herd that would live in her garage.  Often, trips to the grocery store were driven more for cat food than human food, but that was the way she wanted it.  She always put others, human or animal, above herself.

Grace had a love of cooking and was excellent at the Scandinavian specialties including Potato Dumplings (Cannonballs as we called them), Rommegrot, Lefse, Flatbred and Krumkaka, as well as made from scratch bread and sweets.  Many of her grandchildren were fortunate to have “release time” on Wednesday afternoons, to attend their religious education class and the best part of the day was fresh homemade caramel rolls EVERY WEDNESDAY at Grandma Grace’s house.  You couldn’t walk in her house without being asked if you wanted something to eat!  And there was always a treat after Sunday School each week – for every great grandchild that would stop over, must have been bribery to keep them coming!

The flood was a devastating time for Grace, having to leave her home of over 50 years, but after the work of many of her grandchildren, she was able to return to her home, even though her basement was flooded to the top and many of her personal possessions destroyed.

Grace was a healthy person – until the age of 89, she didn’t visit the doctor and was not on any medication.  In 2008, she went into atrial fibrillation but was fortunate to be able to return to her home where she remained until 2011.  At that time, she was hospitalized for a stroke and with the help of Hospice and many family members, was once again able to return home.  Then in July 2012, another stroke moved her permanent residence to Lifecare Roseau Manor.  Grace was a very private person, so spent much of her time in her room but truly enjoyed the company she received.

She was preceded in death by her husband Harry (1977), two sisters – Gladys Wilson of Roseau and Alice Lemley of San Diego, CA, all three of her children – Randy (2005), Wayne (2007) and Bonnie Eastman (2000) and great-grandson Brandon Hites

She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Avis Hites and son-in-law, Robert Eastman, 9 grandchildren – Terry Kolden of Grand Forks, Tammy (Wayne) Brateng of Roseau, Todd Hites of Roseau, Teresa “Trigger” Hites and her special friend, Scott Johnson of Badger, Eddie (Mary) Hites of Roseau, Gail (Kevin) Sundby of Stephen, Jon Hites of Roseau, Penny (Jeff) Erickson of Roseau and Rod (Jackie) Eastman of Roseau, as well as many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

 Service Information