Elly M. Jacobsen, 92, of Sparta, died Sunday, June 18, 2006 at Morrow Memorial Home, Sparta. She was born on July 16, 1913 in Foster County, ND to Niels J. and Marie (Helgesen) Andersen. She attended high school at Carrington, ND and State Teachers College at Valley City, ND. Following graduation, she taught 8 years in rural schools of Foster County. She is a graduate of La Crosse State University.

     On June 12, 1941, she married Nesenius Jacobsen of Sparta, WI. They farmed for 8 years in Little Falls, near Cataract, followed by 2 years in ND. They moved to Sparta in 1951.

     Mrs. Jacobsen was an elementary teacher and principal at Angelo Elementary School for 18 years before her retirement in 1978. For three years she served as head teacher of the Head Start Summer Sessions.

     She has been a member of Trinity Lutheran Church since 1952, where she has been active as Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, and has served on several church committees.

     She was a member of both State and National Retired Teachers Associations.

     Elly is survived by her son, Randall of Mequon, WI; two daughters, Mrs. Gary (Marieta) Northup of Grafton, WI and Mrs.  Qassim (Judith) Al-Mawsawi of Phoenix, AZ; two sisters, Esther Dalburg of McVille, ND and Evelyn Haber of St. Cloud, MN; a brother, Henning Andersen of Hope, ND; six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

     She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Nesenius; and four brothers.

     Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sparta, with Reverend Matthew E. Toso officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Sparta.

     Family and friends may call at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, on Tuesday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Wednesday at the church from 10 a.m. until time of services.  

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.