Russell W. Jacobson

Watch Russell's Funeral Mass Here

Russell "Russ" Jacobson, age 77 of Lake Park, MN, died Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at Viking Manor Nursing Home, Ulen, MN.

Russell Wallace Jacobson was born in Detroit Lakes, MN, to parents, Wallace and Lorraine (Anderson) Jacobson. He grew up with his sisters: Ruth, Alice and Dagney on a farm north of Stinking Lake, north of Lake Park. He always enjoyed the outdoors and skated and trapped muskrats on the lake in the winter. Russ was athletic and played basketball in high school but because he was needed on the farm in the fall, football was not an option.

At Moorhead State College, Russ majored in Social Work and met his future wife, Amy Lisburg. They were married shortly before he was drafted into the Army. Russ served most of his two-year tour in Vicenza, Italy. For two springs, he taught swimming lessons in Abano, Italy, since he was a Water Safety Instructor. In the Italian Alps, Russ learned to downhill ski!

After an honorable discharge, he and Amy moved to North Dakota for a few years while Russ worked as a Social Worker. In Devils Lake, they began cross-country skiing, a sport they enjoyed into their seventies.

They lived in Park Rapids, MN, for 32 years and in those years, Russ became an avid bike rider, often training most weekends by biking 100 miles a day. He and Amy also spent countless hours in Itasca State Park, hiking every trail. Russ taught himself how to sail and owned a small sailboat. In the 1990's, he joined the Jack Pine Writer's Bloc and published some of his poetry and short stories. Russ had the eye of an artist and the soul of a poet as he enjoyed drawing, painting and writing.

In 2007, they moved to a new home near Lake Park where they planted over 200 trees and shrubs on their acreage. Russ loved Rock music and learned to play electric guitar. After moving to Lake Park, he joined a little group that played gigs at local nursing homes. Although the other members were in their eighties and nineties, they encouraged him to entertain with a few rock songs! He always loved visits from family and friends and he had a considerable sweet tooth. His sense of humor was subtle but he liked hijinks and could make any job seem like fun. Russ was especially fond of dogs and little children.

Russ is survived by his wife, Amy; sisters: Ruth (Kuldip) Lumb, Alice (John) Raknerud and Dagney (Calvin) Tollefson; brothers-in-law; Gary (Linda) Lisburg and Wayne (Alice) Lisburg and sister-in-law, Julie Lisburg. He also leaves behind many friends, nieces, nephews and a special caregiver, Jenny.

Russell was preceded in death by parents, Wallace and Lorraine; grandparents, C.O. and Selma and Willy and Alma; brother-in-law, Rick, and his mother and father in-law, Margie and Richard.

Russ' family is grateful to all those who cared for him in his final months, especially the caregivers at HIA Hospice.

Blessed be the memory of Russell Wallace Jacobson.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, October 13, 2025, at 10:30 am at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Lake Park, MN, followed by military honors. Visitation will be held one hour prior at the church. Burial will take place at St. William Catholic Cemetery, Twin Valley, MN.