Donald Allen 'Jake' Jacobson, 60

Donald Allen "Jake" Jacobson, 60, died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Gillette, Wyo. He was born Dec. 31, 1943, to Erling N. and Lela M. (Grafton) Jacobson in Fargo, N.D.

Jake graduated from high school in Cut Bank in 1962. He attended Montana State University for three years, studying mechanical engineering.

Jake then enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served for a total of 34 years with active and reserve time, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

On May 30, 1980, he married the former Vickie Van Alstine in Las Vegas.

From 1972 until present, Jake worked in the oil fields around the world as a driller, floor hand and mostly as a tool pusher. He worked for various contractors including Amoco, General Well Corporation, Sabre Drilling, Loffland Brothers, Nabors Drilling and, for the last four years, Nucor, based in Riverton, Wyo.

In April of 1996, Jake and Vickie purchased and began operating Mane Attraction Beauty Salon in Lander, Wyo. which is still in operation.

Throughout his military Reserves career, Jake had various deployments, including a year with the 5th Special Forces Group in East Africa, five years operating in Seoul, South Korea, one year based at Fort Clayton, Panama, two years in Quarry Heights, Panama, with the U.S. Security Assistance Program for Central and South America and the Caribbean, and also a one-year deployment with the same program in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Jake was an avid bird hunter, a big supporter of UW Cowboys athletics, a dedicated Denver Broncos fan, and enjoyed listening to and telling tall tales and stories.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Jake is survived by his wife, Vickie, of Lander; son, Andy Jacobson, of Mountain View, Calif.; he also leaves behind his black lab, Sadie. Don was also the son-in-law of Barb Schow of Lake Blaine.

Services were held Dec. 19 in Lander.