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Lane Henning Jacobson

Posted 2023-07-30 by mhenderson
Published in Today's News Herald on July 30, 2023 -
Lake Havasu City, Arizona
(personal article, page 5A)

Lane Henning “Jake” Jacobson, 74, of Esmond, ND, passed away Wednesday,
July 12, 2023, at Trinity Health in Minot, ND. A Memorial Service will
be held at 2:00 PM Saturday September 9, 2023 at the Jacobson Farm: 4376
42nd Street NE Esmond, ND 58332. Additionally, there will be a memorial
service at the Lake Havasu Golf Course club house, Lake Havasu City, AZ,
on October 14, at 2:00.

Lane Henning Jacobson was born June 30, 1949, second child of Henning
and Myrtle (Smith) Jacobson. He was baptized at Vasa Lutheran Church,
rural Esmond and confirmed at Trinity-Immanuel Lutheran Parish, Esmond,
ND. He graduated from BCATS in 1967 and attended Lake Region Junior
College for one year before joining the United States Army. Lane served
for two years, including Vietnam duty, where he was a scout dog trainer
and handler. Once discharged from the army, he attended the University
of North Dakota for one year, where he enjoyed partying (Mother, Kenny
Williams, tried to keep him and Eller, Terry Ellingson, on the straight
and narrow to no avail), and then began pursuing his commercial pilot’s
license while also farming with his father. Jake became a very skilled
pilot. He later mastered helicopter flying.

In 1973, Lane married Iris Risovi and in January 1974, a son was born,
Ryan Lane Jacobson. He started Jake’s Air Service in 1975 and worked in
crop dusting and farming for many years. Lane and Iris were divorced in
1979. In September of 1984, a daughter was born, Janelle Patricia
Swanson. Lane married Pamela Swanson in December of 1987. In August of
1994, 18 year old Mei Kei (Andrea) Chan joined the family as a foreign
exchange student from Hong Kong. She is a daughter from different
parents.

Other than the two years in Devils Lake and Maddock, Lane had lived on
the family farm seven miles east of Esmond all his life, occupying the
home in which his father was born. In 1986, the family began spending
winters in Lake Havasu City, AZ, returning to the farm in the summer.

Jake was well known for his daredevil antics whether scaring passengers
with a flip in his airplane, buzzing under power lines while crop
spraying, flying a helicopter that was prone to stalling, or jumping
from a plane. Vietnam had a profound effect on him as his dog, Smokey,
was shot and killed at his side. He was a member of the American Legion
for 43 years and a lifetime member of the VFW, often serving as Color
Guard. He was well known for his generosity (in his friend’s words, “He
never asked for much but was always there to give”), easy going nature,
bawdy songs, talented singing voice, vocal imitations, hats, neck
jewelry, mustache cosmetics, and enjoyment of selzers (mango, please),
ice cream, cereal, and licorice.

He loved golf (though never achieved that hole in one that he coveted),
his buddies, poker, acting, Billy Joel, The Association, The Doobie
Brothers, dancing, crossword puzzles and farming. In telling a joke he
had perfect timing. He went to the gym regularly and did 60 push-ups for
his 60th birthday celebration on the farm. While skilled at many things
he was technically challenged, often needing help to send a picture. He
was also enunciation challenged, which was very difficult for Andrea
when she was a new English learner and for his hard of hearing wife. He
was a good husband, father, son, and friend and loved his family dearly.
He will be missed by so many in both the Maddock area and Lake Havasu.

Jake is survived by his wife of 35 years, Pamela; children, Ryan (Tanya)
Jacobson of Fargo, ND and Janelle (Miguel Hervaz-Lazaro) Swanson of
Phoenix, AZ, and Andrea (Max Barabas) Chan-Barabas of Flushing, NY;
grandchildren, Adra Sundberg, Jada Jacobson, Rylan Sundberg, and Robin
Lazaro-Swanson; siblings, Lana (Mike) Venzke of Phoenix, AZ, Lynne
(Sheldon) Wiger of Olivia, MN and Lee (Roberta) Jacobson of Esmond, ND;
numerous nieces nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his
parents, Henning and Myrtle Jacobson; paternal grandparents, Carl and
Adele (Johanson) Jacobson; maternal grandparents, Herman and Carrie
(Erickson) Smith; numerous aunts and uncles.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to MOHA, Little Bobcat Daycare,
Maddock Memorial Home, Adaptive Golf and other Sports, or Juniors at
Lake Havasu Golf Club (both at 2400 Clubhouse Drive, Lake Havasu City,
AZ 86406





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