Alvin I. Jacobson

Alvin I. Jacobson died on Monday, Aug. 2 at the Veteran's Home in Columbia Falls, Montana.

Al and his twin Henry, were born on April 22 1916 in Oak Grove, North Dakota. As infants, they moved to Montana where their father homesteaded. Their mother, Karin Lien Jacobson, died when the boys were toddlers in the flu epidemic of 1918.

As a boy, Al worked along with his brother on the family farm in Flaxville and eventually came to the Flathead Valley with the CCC in 1935. Adventurous and followers of the jazz music scene, the brothers moved to Chicago in 1939 while supporting themselves by working odd jobs until Alvin was drafted 1941.

Al served with an engineering unit. Henry was drafted in Sept. 1942 to serve in the infantry. After a special request and much red tape, the brothers were eventually stationed together. In 1944, they were captured by the Germans in the Battle of the Bulge and held as prisoners of war in Stalag 13.

After returning home to Kalispell in 1945, Al soon met his wife-to-be, Marjory Caton. Together they raised three sons, Kirby, Rich, and David. Al worked as an auto mechanic and in the heating, cooling and refrigeration business for many years. Upon his retirement, Al joined his wife in running her business, The Robin's Nest.

Anybody who knew Alvin enjoyed his quick wit and affable way. He was a lover of music (especially jazz guitar,) and dancing (mostly at the Bigfork Inn). You could often see him tending to his flowers in the gardens of his Conrad Drive home. He also loved to "tinker." Alvin could cook, sew, weld, fish, hunt, repair and build all manner of things - whimsical or practical. Al was a man of his generation - capable in many ways.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjory.

Al's survivors include his sons; grandchildren Ju-Lin, Noya, and Jake; great granddaughter Kiera; brothers Henry and Howard; sisters Evelyn, Florence, Mayme, and Beverly; cousins, nephews, nieces and in-laws.

Visitation will be Thursday, Aug. 5 from 9-6 at Johnson Mortuary. Funeral service will be held on Friday, Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. followed by a graveside service at Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Marjory and Alvin Jacobson Memorial Art Scholarship c/o Rich Jacobson 120 2nd St. East, Kalispell, MT 59901 or to a charity of donor's choice.

Arrangements made under the direction of Johnson Mortuary.