Harley Elton "Jake" Jacobsen returned to his Heavenly Father on March 5, 2013. He was born March 24, 1931, in Golden Valley, N.D.

He graduated Salutatorian of the class of 1949 from Golden Valley High School. That fall he enrolled at Dickinson State College in Dickinson N.D. After one semester he moved to Los Angeles, Calif., and entered funeral profession as an apprentice embalmer.

In 1952 "Jake" was drafted into the U.S. Army and served with the 101st Airborne. He was medically discharged and returned to L.A. to attend The California College of Mortuary Science where he received his Embalmers and Funeral Directors License.

In 1957 he married Suzanne Hamer. They had three sons, Jim (Johnna) of Spirit Lake, Todd (Lori) of Stevenson Ranch, Calif., and Kirk (Shirley) of Palmer, Alaska.

In 1968 a severe back injury caused him to leave the funeral industry. Jake and his family moved to Coeur d'Alene where he became an insurance agent with State Farm. He remained there until retirement in 1995. His marriage to Suzanne dissolved in 1980. He married Patricia Prairie Russell in 1988. Together they enjoyed many years of fishing and worldwide travel. In 1997 he and Pat purchased a home in Yuma, Ariz., where they would spend the winter and summer in Flathead Lake, Mont. Jake also enjoyed crocheting and won many awards for his beautiful afghans and baby blankets.

He is survived by his wife, Pat; three sons; three stepchildren, Kim Delay, Heather and R. Doug McChesney, all of Alaska; and his wonderful grandchildren, Jens, Jessica, Emily and Leila Rose Jacobsen; and step-grandson Phoenix McChesney.

A viewing will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon today, March 11, 2013, at the L.D.S. Church on Ave. 8 1/2E in the Yuma Foothills. The funeral and a luncheon will follow. Guest book online at cdapress.com.