Donna Jacobsen

1935 - 2025

Donna Jacobsen, 90, of Norwich N.Y., stepped into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Aug. 19, 2025. What began as faith has now become sight.

Donna was born July 19, 1935, at home in Round Valley, Neb. to Berent and Annie (Olson) Ottun. As a young girl, through the ministry of the American Sunday School Union, she put her faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior.

She graduated as valedictorian of her high school class in Sargent in 1953. She then earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a focus on Home Economics from Kearney State Teachers College.

Later, she took additional classes in order to teach elementary school. Through the course of her career, she taught nearly every grade in schools in Nebraska, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York, but her favorite grades to teach were 5th and 6th grade.

She loved teaching, and she developed a passion for Christian school education. She ran a structured classroom, yet over the years, many students have sent messages telling her that she was their favorite teacher.

Donna married her husband Delbert Jacobsen June 1, 1958. Together, they met the hard challenges of life leaning on the words of Scripture and the promises of God.

After 55 years of marriage, the Lord called Del home in 2012.

She loved her Norwegian heritage and was proud to tell anyone that she was "100% Norwegian."

A highlight of her life was visiting the sites in Norway from which her grandparents (the Loftness, Ottun and Olson families) immigrated.

Tears of joy ran down her face the day the plane landed in Norway fulfilling her lifelong dream. Tears ran down her face a second time as she listened to a church congregation in Bergen sing in Norwegian, the hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness."

Donna and Del opened their home to many young people who stayed with them for a time - some to attend a Christian school, others during times of transition.

In addition to those who lived with them for longer stays, she also demonstrated warm hospitality to countless dinner guests, always making sure no one left her table hungry.

She is survived by her children - Patricia (Bruce) Buchanan, Brenda (Ralph) Hansen, and Sheryl Trine; her grandchildren - Scott (Caroline) Buchanan, Gregory (Becca) Buchanan, Brandon Buchanan, Kelly (Eric) Getz, and Tiffany (Mike) Englert; and her great-grandchildren (who brought her great joy!) - Catherine and Jonathan Buchanan, Elowyn, Aila, and Hallie Buchanan, Joanna and Maci Getz, and Mikey, Noah, and Riley Englert; sister-in-law Anita Ottun; brother-in-law Gerald Jacobsen; and by many nieces; and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brothers and sisters-in-law - Harold and Irene Ottun, Darrel and Sheila Ottun; brother Gaylord Ottun; and her in-laws - Glenn and Iris Jacobsen, Ray and Vivian Thomas, and Judy Jacobsen.

Funeral services will be Saturday, Aug. 30, at 10 a.m. at the Broken Bow Evangelical Free Church. Interment will follow at Round Valley Cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday, Aug. 29, from 5-7 p.m. at Goviers Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow.

Memorials may be made to "Every Man a Warrior, Inc.," 4435 O Street, Ste 100 Lincoln, NE 68510 (a ministry of Trans World Radio).