Kay Rhys Jacobson

Kay Rhys Jones Jacobson, age 79, of Mankato, passed away Sunday, July 31, 2022, at Pathstone Nursing Home, from cancer. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 8, from 4-7 p.m., at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary. Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 9, at 1 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church of Mankato, with a visitation one hour prior to the service. There will also be a gathering at the Mankato Golf Club beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota, the Mankato Area United Way, or donor's choice. Kay was born on January 19, 1943, in Mankato, MN. She graduated in 1961 from Mankato High School. In 1965, she earned her B.A. and teaching certificate from Macalester College in St. Paul, and taught elementary school after college. She was united in marriage to Lyle G. Jacobson on June 19, 1965, at the First Presbyterian Church of Mankato. For the next 13 years, Kay and Lyle made their home in Rochester, MN, raising three children, Amy, Lori and Eric. In 1978, the family moved back to Kay's hometown of Mankato, where Lyle joined Katolight Corporation (now Rolls-Royce Power Systems). Katolight was a family business co-owned by Kay and her sister, Marcia Richards. Kay and Lyle became sole owners in 2002, and sold the company in 2007. Kay belonged to the Presbyterian churches in both Rochester and Mankato. She was a member of Chapter DA P.E.O. Both Kay and Lyle, happily married for 55 years, were active and generous supporters of many Mankato initiatives, including the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota, the Mankato Area Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, the Mankato Symphony Auxiliary, and beautification efforts for downtown Mankato. Kay enjoyed summers growing up on Lake Washington, and returned to live on the lake from 1998-2021. She inspired many over the years with her beautiful gardens. Kay enjoyed numerous world-travel adventures with Lyle and their close friends, as well as entertaining and hosting cousins and extended family for holiday gatherings. She appreciated spending time with her children and grandchildren at her Lake Washington home, as well as at Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge in Deerwood, MN., and at her and Lyle's winter home in La Quinta, CA. Kay is survived by her daughters, Amy (Michael) Peters of Oklahoma City, OK, and Lori (Nathan) Gardner of St. Louis Park, MN. Her grandchildren, Rachel and Aaron Peters, and Nora and Alan Gardner; her sister, Marcia Richards; sister-in-law, Judy Anderson; brother-in-law, Tim (Barb) Ferdon; her nieces, Jessica (Michael) Palmquist, Sarah Richards, Leah (Ray) McNeil, Jeanne Lassard, and Kim (Brian) Adams; and her nephew, David Richards. She is preceded in death by her husband, Lyle G. Jacobson; her son, Eric Page Jacobson; parents, Mildred M. Page Jones; and Cecil H. Jones; her brothers-in-law, Norman Jacobson, Curt Anderson, and Tom Richards; and her sister-in-law, Marilyn Ferdon.