Martha M. Jacobson (maiden name Rupp) passed away, Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at 12:50 pm. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Kathryn A. Jacobson (1969) and her husband, J. Leonard Jacobson (2008). She is survived by her son, Eldon Jacobson (wife Jennyfer Jacobson), daughter Carol Jacobson (husband Mike), and daughter Myrna Bauer (husband Robert Bauer), sister Edna Richardson, brother Elmer Rupp, and five grandchildren (Rebecca Jacobson, Michelle Bauer, Kathryn Jacobson, Marie Bauer, and John Bauer).
Martha was born on October 29, 1925 in Mountain Lake, Minnesota (Cottonwood County). Her parents were Anna and Theodore Rupp. When she was about ten years old, her folks packed up all the kids and moved to the Seattle area, where her dad found a job that suited him (apparently farming for him in the Midwest was a challenge). Martha had six brothers and sisters.
Martha graduated from Edmonds High School in June, 1945. She then attended Simpson Bible Institute, completing all the requirements for the Missionary Course and graduating May, 1948. At that time the school was located on Phinney Ridge in Seattle (The school has since moved to Redding, California). At school she met her future sister-in-law, Dorothy Jacobson. They became friends and Dorothy introduced Martha to the rest of her family, including her future husband, J. Leonard Jacobson. They were married in April, 1953.
For the first year of their marriage they lived in an apartment in Seattle at lower Queen Anne. Then they moved to a rental house in southeast Seattle. Her husband worked for Boeing. On his days off Leonard’s dad (Sven Johan Axel Jacobson) helped build the family home on a one-acre tract in Renton, Washington (11641 SE 188th St. SE, Renton, WA). The growing family moved into the house around 1958. Martha and Leonard raised their four kids at this location.
When Martha’s daughter Kathryn was ice skating at a birthday party with Martha, Kathryn collapsed at the skating rink and passed away. This was a complete shock to the family (and friends). While life continued on, the death of a child was something that a parent carries with them the rest of their life.
After raising the remaining three children, Martha went to work for the Fredrick and Nelson department store at a warehouse in Tukwila, Washington. There she packed customer phone and mail orders for shipping. Once Martha got home and noticed her wedding ring was missing. We believe it accidentally fell off into the packing material. Somebody got a surprise gift (if it was even noticed). Martha’s husband gave her his wedding ring (after it was adjusted to fit).
After retirement Martha and Leonard moved to 80 acres near Napavine, Washington. They lived in a one-room “cabin” while they built their retirement home. Martha had been involved in a women’s garden club in Renton, and so continued the hobby in Napavine where she joined the local garden club. Martha became very good at putting together cut flower arrangements. She also enjoyed quilting.
Other hobbies mom participated in were visiting lighthouses and collecting small ornamental spoons of the various locations she visited. She obtained a Singer sewing machine and became very skilled at sewing.
Martha was an excellent cook. People really enjoyed her home-made pies and cookies and lemonade and German dishes and Swedish meatballs and Swedish pancakes and outdoor grilling on the fire pit …
Martha liked to travel and went on many group tours, most often with her girlfriends since Leonard usually wanted to stay home. One of Martha’s longer trips was when she traveled to China when her son (Eldon) and daughter-in-law (Jennyfer) adopted Kathryn. Martha and Leonard together visited Sweden in 1993.
When Martha was in her seventies she started to show the beginning signs of dementia. The family knew something was happening when Martha took eight hours to drive home from Seattle to Napavine (when the normal time was about two hours). Thankfully at that time she still knew enough to fill the gas tank when needed.
In January 2008, Martha’s husband passed away. Martha’s children knew Martha could not live by herself anymore, so she was soon moved into an adult care facility. She was living at an adult home when she died.
Even through her struggles with dementia (Alzheimer’s), Martha always kept a positive attitude. When visitors would come, Martha always greeted them with a kind smile. She will always be remembered as a great wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
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