Francis V. Jacobs

MALTA - Francis V. Jacobs, 82, passed away on June 24, 2019, in Malta with loved ones by his side after a courageous battle with cancer. Viewing was Friday, June 28, 2019, at Kirkwood Memorial Chapel. Funeral Service were Saturday, June 29, 2019 at Kirkwood Memorial Chapel. Burial followed at Malta Cemetery. Francis's family has requested that memorial donations be made in his name to a charity of your choice.

Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.

Francis was born in Malta, on June 6, 1937 to Vernon and Frances (Hulbert) Jacobs, and grew up and attended the Community Elementary School in the Whitewater-Loring area. He attended and graduated from Malta High School in 1955. This is where he met the love of his life Dolores Henderson. They were married on June 14, 1958. After marriage they lived and farmed and ranched on Dolores' family's homesteads in southern Phillips County, where they continued to grow to help make Jacobs Ranch what it is today. In the fall of 1958 he was employed with a contractor building power lines for the Big Flat Electric Cooperative. They had three children, Joyce, Lee and JoAnn. In the fall of 2012 they bought a home in Malta, and this is where they were residing at the time of his death.

Francis was a gentle, kind and proud man who loved and enjoyed his family. He truly loved what he did on the farm and ranch and worked on it until he just couldn't any more. He enjoyed the outdoors, in particular dirt work, including his own gravel pit which helped gravel roads in the community. He had a sense for spotting certain rocks and artifacts, and enjoyed dances at the First Creek Hall and polka music. He also enjoyed Saturday nights at the Bucket.

He was involved in his community and served on the Second Creek School Board, the Phillips County Planning Board, the Big Flat Electric Board, was elected and served as a Phillips County Commissioner for six years, and was also appointed to serve on the Bureau of Land Management's Central Montana Resource Advising Council.

He was preceded in death by his parents Vernon and Frances Jacobs, sisters Eva May Jacobs and Ina Bell Severeide, and brother Wayne Jacobs.

Francis is survived by his wife Dolores of 61 years, children Joyce (Willy) Hammar of Malta, Lee (Perri) Jacobs of Malta, and JoAnn (Bruce) Normandy of Havre, Mont., Grandchildren Julia (Nathan) Aasen, Nicole (Jonathan) Hutchinson, Trent Normandy, and Brett (Shelby) Normandy, great-grandchildren Brody, Logan and Brantley, and numerous nieces and nephews.