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 p.m. Saturday Sept. 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 p.m.
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)
Online condolences may be left at www.thenelsonfuneralhome.com. The Nelson Funeral Home of Maddock, ND is in charge of the arrangements.
