- Date Of Birth: July 4, 1929
- Date Of Death: October 22, 2019
- State: Michigan
Katherine A. “Billie” Jacobson, age 90, of Mendon, died peacefully Tuesday evening, October 22, 2019, in Thurston Wood of Sturgis in the comfort of her family’s presence.
She was born July 4, 1929 in Mishawaka, Indiana, the youngest of three children of Lee and Hilda Backensto. Katherine’s mother told her that she watched the Fourth of July fireworks shortly after she gave birth and Katherine has been a firecracker ever since.
Katherine attended Berrien Springs High School and was active in many school activities as well as working at her parent’s restaurant. She married James Leroy Jacobson in 1948 and together they operated an auction house in Niles, Michigan. She attended Reisch Auction College and received an auctioneering diploma in 1970 when it was unusual for a woman to be in that business.
Katherine spent a lot of time dealing in antique jewelry and other collectibles at flea markets around the country. She would pack up her van and go for months at a time. Later in her life her passion turned to collectible buttons and she enjoyed making arrangements out of them.
Katherine enjoyed having company and her coffee pot was always ready for anyone who stopped to visit. She was always ready for a card game or dice game. Katherine enjoyed her “cabin” on the Saint Joseph River and watching the water go by as well as the swans. She had her own unique vocabulary, such as referring to the herons as “hurons.” Katherine was a giving person, more interested in giving than receiving money.
Katherine will be greatly missed by family and friends. She is survived by one daughter, Donna (Nathaniel Ingles) Jacobson of White Marsh, Virginia; two sons, Martin (Judy Schaefer) Jacobson of Potosi, Wisconsin, Kenneth (Sandy Martino) Jacobson of Leesburg, Florida; one son in law, Ray Lowry of Three Rivers; ten grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter, Lynda Lowry; and two brothers, Rodger Backensto and Gene Backensto.
