Joyce Minnie Jacobson

JOYCE MINNIE JACOBSON was born to William C. and Freida Wolter in their rural Jeffers home on April 22, 1927, the third of five daughters. She was baptized and confirmed in the rural Germantown St. John’s Lutheran Church near Jeffers and graduated from Jeffers High School in 1945. She then earned her beautician certification at the Mankato Beauty Culture School. She was united in marriage to Jay Sanford Jacobson on May 29, 1948 in Moody County, SD and they became the parents of two sons. They spent their entire married lives in Pipestone. Joyce worked as a beautician for both Faye Jensen and Rose Perkins and then worked for a time at Pan-O-Gold Bakery in Pipestone. In 1955 she opened the Home Beauty Shop in their home on 3rd Avenue Southwest. Several years later Jay joined her in the beauty shop where they had many faithful customers over the 38 years of business until closing the shop on Dec. 30, 1993. Jay preceded her in death on September 29, 1997. Joyce moved to Falls Landing in November, 2005 and after some health issues in 2012 she moved to Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone in early May, 2012. Joyce passed away peacefully in her sleep at Good Sam on Sunday, January 8, 2017 at the age of 89 years, eight months and 16 days.

Joyce was a charter member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, where she, Jay, and the boys served as custodians for many years. Her faith grew over the years and was evident through her many loving friendships and concern for others. Through the church congregation’s participation in the Hiawatha Pageant, the Jacobson family spent many of their summer evenings portraying tribe members. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, a past member of the Pipestone Country Club, and belonged to several bridge clubs. Playing cards was a passion of Joyce’s, along with reading books and the many magazines to which she subscribed. She also enjoyed volunteering as a greeter/usher at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center. Her family was very important to Joyce, especially with all six of her grandchildren growing up in Pipestone. Christmas was always special to her, putting her decorating touches throughout their home and serving oyster stew on Christmas Eve along with a full meal. The staff at Good Sam were her “other family” and she always boasted how much she liked living there. Her favorite comment for many years was “one day at a time”, which is exactly how she looked at her life.

Joyce is lovingly remembered by her two sons, James Sanford (Cheri) Jacobson and Jack William (Phyllis) Jacobson, all of Pipestone; her 6 grandchildren, Jason (Bonnie Sykes) Jacobson of LaGrange, KY, Ryan (Lora) Jacobson of Mora, Scott Jacobson of Norwell, MA, David (Lorilie) of College Station, TX, Julie (Matt) Mahoney of Oakdale, and Paul Jacobson, Marshall; 6 great-grandchildren, Carter, Isabella, Jonah and Lucas Jacobson, Jay and Alex Mahoney; and 2 step-great-grandchildren, Andrew and Emily Sykes; two sisters, Jane McWilliams of Hopkins, and Billie Jean Potter of Brooklyn Park; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jay; her parents; and two sisters, Violet Schoper and Mildred Knoll.