Alice Jacobsen

A funeral service for Alice Clarie Jacobsen, age 82, of Gregory, SD. was held at 3 p.m., Sunday, May 17, at St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory. with Pastor Marcus Ring and Gary Jacobsen officiating. Leanne Sinclair provided piano accompaniment on several congregational hymns. Diane Jacobsen was in charge of registration. Flower attendants were Laura Petersen, Rachelle Santiago, and Amanda Determan. Casket bearers were Austin Kahler, Grady Fortuna, Cade Fortuna, Lily Jacobsen, Claire Jacobsen, Ada Jacobsen, Emmit Kahler, and Tate Fortuna. Curt Jacobsen, Leslie Maher, Bev Bertram, Andra Gates, Donald Stukel, Jeanne Belcher, John Stukel, and Jenny Stukel were honorary casket bearers.

Interment was at Hillview Cemetery in Dallas. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Alice Claire Jacobsen was born to Henry and Ada (Hutchison) Sattler on April 9, 1944, in Gregory, SD. She joined big sisters Joyce and Barbara, and grew up on a farm southeast of Gregory. She was baptized and confirmed at the UCC church in Gregory. Alice attended school through the 8th grade at the Powell Country School and graduated from Gregory High School in 1962. She then attended Sioux Valley Nursing School in Sioux Falls.

Alice married classmate David Jacobsen on January 29, 1965. They made their first home at the Lang farm north of Dallas where their oldest daughter, Sheila, was born. They then moved to David’s parents’ farm when Otto and Marie moved to Dallas. The next three children came along — Mark, Sandra, and Michael (Bud). They spent their remaining married life at this farm, which was designated as a Century Farm by the State of South Dakota.

David and Alice were farmers, ranchers, and business owners, starting on the farm and later moving the business operations to town. Alice cooked lunches at the farm and shop for innumerable farmers throughout her years. David and Alice traveled the world until his death in 2010. Alice stayed on the farm until 2024, when she moved to town.

Alice continued to travel with friends and family until July 2025, when she became ill, ultimately receiving a diagnosis of lymphoma in September 2025. Alice tolerated her chemo treatments like the strong woman she was and never lost her spirit throughout the difficult diagnosis, often heading to cards directly after receiving a treatment.

David and Alice, along with their family, ran the Ringneck Roost Hunting Lodge in some form from the 1960s to present. Alice enjoyed visiting each year with the hunters, who became like family. More than anything, Alice loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, followed closely by her love of thrifting, coffee shop gossiping with Joan Bloom, gardening, cooking, bird watching, playing cards and games of any kind, fishing, hosting exchange students, breeding/raising/selling mastiff and labrador dogs, and making many memories on the Missouri River camping and boating with friends and family.

Alice is survived by her children: Sheila (Brad) Kahler, Mark (Kristen) Jacobsen, Sandra (Mark) Fortuna, and Michael (Amy) Jacobsen; grandchildren: Austin (Keisha) Kahler, Grady (Sydney) Fortuna, Cade (Anna) Fortuna, Lily, Claire and Ada Jacobsen; and great-grandchildren: Emmit Kahler and Tate Fortuna; sisters Joyce (Donald) Stukel and Barbara Sattler, along with many nieces and nephews. Alice is also survived by special friend Mike Bross, who shared many good times and travels with her.

She was preceded in death by her husband David, parents Ada and Henry, in-laws Otto and Marie Jacobsen, Merlin and Almeta Jacobsen, grandsons Kirk and Robert, and special friend Joan Bloom.