Shirley Jacobson

Shirley Ann Jacobson, daughter of Viola Linow Abraham Phillips, Paul Abraham and (stepfather) Eirvin U. Phillips, was born on April 9th1935 in Bertha Minnesota. Shirley died peacefully on September 27th, 2020, at her home in Alexandria Minnesota, just nine short months after her beloved husband, Douglas L. Jacobson.

Shirley moved several times in her younger years. One of the moves brought her back to Alexandria, in the 7th grade, where she first met her future husband, Doug. She left Alexandria again and ultimately graduated from Leavenworth High School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1953. She was active in high school, serving as class president, in pep club, the Red Cross, and several other clubs. After graduation, Shirley moved to California to pursue a career in nursing, but soon returned to Alexandria to help her mom after her stepfather suffered a stroke. Shirley applied for a job at Diekman’s Jewelry. The owner, a former classmate of Shirley’s and good friend of Doug was quick to inform “that Abraham girl” is back in town. Soon after, Doug contacted Shirley and arranged for a first date, which he then stood her up for. Fortunately, she forgave him, and a true love began.

Shirley and Doug were married on August 21, 1959 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Three sons were born to the happy couple, Steve, Tony, and Tom. In 1970, Shirley and Doug packed their three boys, and their belongings into a camper converted school bus, and headed north to Alaska, in search of a better life for their family. In 1979 Shirley and Doug built their first greenhouse in Wasilla, Alaska, the start of a new adventure that would define their lives and those of future generations of their family. Jacobson’s Greenhouse is a thriving business to this day. Shirley and Doug, and son, Tom returned to Alexandria in 2009, where they enjoyed the beautiful lakes and spending time with family and friends. Shirley continued to explore her passion for gardening finding and planting all the newest colors and varieties of the flowers she loved so dearly. Visitors were never surprised to see her surrounded by stacks of gardening magazines and catalogs. The family is happy knowing that Shirley and Doug are reunited and are planting flowers in Heaven’s gardens.

She is survived by her sons, Steve (Brenda) Jacobson of Wasilla, Alaska; Tony (Cynthia) Jacobson of Wasilla, Alaska; Tom Jacobson of Farwell; grandchildren, Cory (Blaise) Anderson of Grand Rapids, Robbie Jacobson of Wasilla, Alaska, Jeremy (Michelle) Jacobson of Wasilla, Alaska, and Toni Gail (Ben) Frank of Willow, Alaska; step granddaughters, Kirsten (Josh Sonkiss) Pickard of Tucson, AZ, and Nikki Lee (Chris Hennen) of Wasilla, Alaska; great grandchildren, Kayden Jacobson, Marlee Jacobson, Otto Jacobson and Greta Jacobson; step great grandson, Nick Pickard; sister Betty Dau of Alexandria and her family, Sisters in Law Gretchen Braget (Darryl) Donna Dykuizen; and other nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas L. Jacobson; her parents; her brother, Wayne Abraham; brother in law, Duane Dykuizen; and daughter in law, Nancy Jensen.

Memorial services will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.