Peter Thomas Jacobs passed away in his sleep at his ranch south of Morristown SD on November 6th 2010. Peter was born on February 19th 1917 at Alden, ND southwest of Regent to Clarence (Quirinus) Johannes and Edith Mae (Huff) Jacobs. He was the 1st born of the 15th generation of Den Bommel, Holland Jacobs'.


Peter attended ND district #2 Teepee Butte School and St. Mary's in New England ND when he was not needed to work on the farm. His father told him "it is more important to learn how to work than it is to go to school". Peter had a special love for education, when he was small he would sneak his sisters' school books to the barn so he could read and learn. This desire to read, learn, and know more about everything (especially agriculture, science, & religion) stayed with him his entire life making him one of the most self educated men you ever met.


Farming was his life passion starting with 4H which was a privilege. In his youth he won several Grand Champion awards in the livestock division. During the 30's he did any type of work he could find from herding horses through what is now the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt Park to picking potatoes in Minnesota. Then, as a young man he bought his own farm near Mott ND. He was getting a good start with this farm when he was called to active duty during WWII. He enlisted into the US Marine Corps on May 7, 1942. Corporal Peter T. Jacobs was a Specialty Combination Welder for the U.S. Marines which took him many places including Iwo Jima where he witnessed the unimaginable. He was discharged on September 14, 1945.


During his tour of duty he managed to write a few love letters to Eleanor S. Gion who agreed to meet and marry him when he returned. They were married on August 11th 1945 in San Diego CA.


Soon after they returned to ND to farm, but his farm had been sold for taxes. Therefore they purchased a sheep ranch near Ralph SD. This ranch had much to offer such as irrigated hay land but, 9 out of 13 years the hail storms oppressed them. In 1959 they purchased the current Jacobs sheep ranch south of Morristown SD. Peter was an active conservationist earning several awards from the NRCS (then the Corson County SCS). He improved the land and water quality by building many stock dams and dugouts, terracing the hay land to reduce water erosion and increase production, and planting many field wind breaks to reduce wind erosion.


When the local "country school" closed Peter and Eleanor chose to send their 8 living children to St. Mary's Catholic boarding school in New England ND because they believed so strongly in a good education and their faith.


Peter was an active member of local Knight of Columbus, the Sacred Heart parish of Morristown, and the Corson County Soil Conservation District. He and Eleanor served as caretakers at the Carmel of Mary Monastery in Wahpeton ND from 1976 – 1980. His greatest joy was found in being with his grandchildren. At his 90th birthday, he was proud of having more than 100 descendents. They loved to play cards and board games, build "stuff", tell jokes, get into the cookies, snitch candy or dig in the garden with Grandpa – most of them wore a pair of striped bib overalls at one point or another, renaming them "Grandpa pants". He had a special way with little children as they did with him, even in his last weeks of life he would respond to the sound of a child.


Peter is survived by his children Paul Jacobs of Morristown, SD, Madonna Kvale of Safford AZ, Clarence Jacobs of Bismarck ND, his twin Sister Mary Catherine O. Carm. of Christoval, TX , Sylvester (Toni) Jacobs of Morristown, Theresa Jacobs (Tom) Goodman of Great Falls MT, Antoinette (Netty) Jacobs (Gary) Bjerke of Williston ND and Thomas (Sue)Jacobs of Gillette WY, 34 grandchildren, 63 great grandchildren, brothers, Joseph Jacobs, Newberg, OR, Albert (Janice) Jacobs, Richland, WA, sister-in-law, Anita Jacobs, Richland, OR, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.


He was preceded in death by his wife Eleanor, daughters Eleanor and Regina, grandsons Peter Martin Jacobs, Michael D. Bjerke, Cody John Jacobs, Silas Morris Jacobs, granddaughter Clara Ann Jacobs, his sisters Eva Hoff, Elizabeth Barth, and Katherine Rixen/Anderson, and brothers Glenn, Leonard, Leo, and James.



Mass of Christian burial for Peter T. Jacobs, age 93 of Morristown, SD will be Friday, November 12, 2010 at 10:00am at St. Henry's Catholic Church in Regent with Fr. Chad Gion,Deacon Don Gion, officiating. Burial will be in the Regent Cemetery with full military honors afforded by the Ulmer-Zich American Legion Post #273 of Regent.


A Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 7:00 pm on Thursday evening at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morristown with Fr. Tony Grossenburg, officiating.


Serving as casketbearers are casketbearers are Paul, Clarence, Sylvester and Thomas Jacobs, Daniel Kvale, and Gabriel Bjerke. All of Peter's Family and Friends are considered Honorary Bearers.


A memorial has been established to the Carmilite Nuns.


Visitation will be from 1:00 to 5:00 pm on Thursday at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and on Friday one hour prior to services at St. Henry's Catholic Church in Regent.