Betty Mae (Grorud) Jacobson, the daughter of Bredo and Nellie (Dokken) Grorud was born August 5, 1926 in Rugby, North Dakota.  She died at the age of 86 years on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at the Heart of America Care Center in Rugby, North Dakota.

Betty was raised in the home of her parents in Rugby, graduating from Rugby High School.  She completed her education at the University of North Dakota, where she graduated with a degree in Medical Technology.  While at the University she was a member of the Alpha Phi Sorority, where she directed the sorority’s musical production in the Flickertail Follies and was a member of the UND Marching Band.  On June 9, 1948, she was united in marriage to Robert L. Jacobson at the First Lutheran Church in Rugby.  The couple lived and proudly raised their family of three, Robert Jr., Mary Louise and Nancy, in Rugby.

A loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, she enjoyed membership in the Eastern Star, playing bridge in several Bridge Clubs and was actively involved in First Lutheran Church as a member, the choir director for many years and the church’s Ladies Aid Auxiliary.  She loved to spend family time at their lake cottage on Lake Metigoshe and vacationing in Glacier National Park, Montana.  Betty lived life to the fullest and was a joy to all who were around her.  She was known to the community as the happy lady, who had a wave and a smile for everyone she came upon while pedaling her three wheeled bicycle to and from her daily coffee appointments.  She especially loved her husband Bob, her children, grandchildren and her life long best friend and sister, Esther.  Betty will be greatly missed by all who were privileged to know her.

She is survived by a son, Robert Lawrence, Jr “Bob” of Lake Metigoshe; Mary Louise “Louie” (Gary) Splichal of Grand Forks; and Nancy (Mick) Hamilton of Helena, Montana; grandchildren, Matt Jacobson, Kelsey Jacobson, Ben Splichal, Beth Splichal and Brian Hamilton; great grandchildren, Cooper Splichal and Carter Jacobson; a sister, Esther McClintock of Rugby; a sister-in-law, Mary Jane Grorud of Bismarck; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.  She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bob (January 11, 2009), a brother Robert Grorud; a brother-in-law, Paul (Eileen) Jacobson, and her parents.

Memorial services 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at First Lutheran Church in Rugby.  Pastor Mike Pretzer, Officiating.  There will be no visitation or reviewal.

Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the time of services on Tuesday at the church.