Betty Jean Jacobs

Betty Jacobs, born October 5, 1932, in Fairfield, Iowa, passed away peacefully on May 16, 2026, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.

She was the daughter of Andrew P. and Dorothy A. Pohren Crile. She married Jack Jacobs on June 21, 1953, at Clara Lutheran Church in Salina, Iowa. Jack preceded her in death on February 7, 2013.

Betty grew up on a farm in Jefferson County and was active in Boys and Girls 4H. She attended a one-room school for grades K-8 and graduated from Fairfield High School as co-valedictorian. She pursued further education at Augustana College, Parsons College, and Iowa Wesleyan College.

Betty dedicated thirty years to teaching at the elementary and middle school levels in Danville, Donnellson and Burlington. She and her husband also owned and operated the Dairy Sweet in Donnellson for seven years. After retiring from teaching, Betty worked as secretary/receptionist for American Visions Travel, where she and Jack also served as tour guides.

Betty was a devoted member of Messiah Lutheran Church, serving on the church council, participating in Sarah Circle, teaching Sunday school, and coordinating Lutheran Women's Cluster Group of Southeast Iowa. She was active in Lutheran Women's Synodical Group and a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, Retired School Personnel, and Cotillion Dance Club. She loved reading, especially the poetry of Helen Steiner Rice, enjoyed family gatherings, traveling, dancing and collecting Precious Moments figurines. Most of all, she cherished time with her grandchildren.

Betty is survived by her children, Scott Jacobs (Cheryl Edwards) of Burlington, IA, and Laura Dettman of Burlington, IA; grandchildren Brea Jacobs of New London, IA, Hunter Vargason of Burlington, IA, Jarad Dettman of Burlington, IA, Joshua Vargason of Waterloo, IA, Jeremy Jacobs of West Virginia and Natalie Babcock (Jacobs) of Burlington, IA; her sister Loretta (Wayne) Diers of Fairfield, IA and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jack, her parents, two sisters in infancy, her brother and sister-in-law Keith and Rose Crile, her sister and brother-in-law Wallace and Lois Brokken and her maternal and paternal grandparents.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 21st at Lunning Chapel where the family will receive friends.

The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 22nd at Messiah Lutheran Church. Pastor DaMisha McFarland-Pollock will officiate. Burial will be in the New Sweden Lutheran Cemetery, Lockridge, Iowa.

Memorials have been established for Bickford Cottage, Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House and the Pohren/Crile Scholarship Fund c/o The Jefferson County Foundation, ATTN: Treasurer, PO BOX 1325, Fairfield, Iowa 52556.