Betty Jacobsen's Obituary
Betty Jean Jacobsen, daughter of Howard M. and Bessie R. Rippy Brown, was born January 4, 1925, in Sedalia, Missouri. She departed this life Monday, October 10, 2011, in Christian Health Care South, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-six years, nine months, and six days.
On February 4, 1945, she was united in marriage to Walter Otto ?Bus? Jacobsen, and to this union one daughter and one son were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Bus, on July 15, 2003.
Betty is survived by a son, Larry Jacobsen, and his wife, Judy, of Lebanon, Missouri; a daughter, Vicki J. Fincher, and her husband, Wayne, of Lebanon, Missouri; five grandchildren, Kim Gardner, and her husband, Matt, Tara Arnett, and her husband, Brock, Tony Fincher, and his wife, Ann, Dena McGaughy, and her husband, Lynn, and Julia Jacobs, and her husband, Lloyd; sixteen great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Donald Brown, and his wife, Bonnie, of Sedalia, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends.
She was born in Missouri, and was raised in Parsons, Kansas. She then moved back to Sedalia with her family when she was in her freshman year, and graduated from high school there. She met Bus at Whiteman Air Force Base, and they soon married and moved to Sedalia. Bus worked for Burkholder?s Appliance Store and B. F. Goodrich Company, while Betty was a devoted homemaker and loving mother. In 1956, the family moved to Lebanon and made their home, and Betty worked for General Gas Company for a few years. In 1959, Betty and Bus co-founded Jacobsen Appliances, Inc. and Betty soon became the bookkeeper for the business. In 1961, the Jacobsen?s joined with Wayne and Donna Wood and established Jacobsen and Wood, which they operated together until 1984. Betty and Bus?s son, Larry, joined Jacobsen Appliances, Inc. and Betty continued to be a daily part of the operation until retiring five years ago.
Betty was a longtime active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and was involved in all areas of church work.
She was also a founding member of the Lebanon Business and Professional Women?s Club. She was a very accomplished bowler and played on local, regional and state teams. She was inducted into the Lebanon Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, for her bowling abilities. She and her son, Larry, became the first mother/son inductees into the hall when he was honored for his many years of basketball officiating in 2010. She earned various other awards and accolades from other associations including the Missouri Women?s Bowling Writers and the Lebanon Women?s Bowling Association. She later was named to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. In her quiet moments, she enjoyed sewing and was a passionate St. Louis Cardinals Baseball fan. She possessed an outgoing personality and never met a stranger. Her family was always the center of her life and she greatly enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Betty was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and know that her family and friends will cherish all the wonderful memories she created for them throughout the years.
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