Mildred Josephine “Josie” Jacobsen, a longtime resident of Valleyview, AB, passed away on Friday, July 10, 2020, in Grande Prairie, AB, at the age of 92 years.

Josie was born on the family farm in Hudson Bay, SK, on September 18, 1927, to Annie and Alfred Blanchard. She was the eighth child of a family of 10. She met Tom Jacobsen in Hudson Bay where they began their life together. Josie and Tom lived in Calgary, Prince George, and finally moved to the Valleyview area in the early fifties to homestead on land located on the Old High Prairie Road. Josie was a hard worker, and while working on the homestead, she also worked several jobs, including assisting Tom with a water delivery business. She became a school bus driver after the water business closed and continued driving a bus for East Smokey School Division for 25 years until her retirement. Josie was an enthusiastic curler and golfer until her physical condition confined her to less strenuous activities. She was always up for fishing and jumped at any chance she would get to go. Thanks to Reg and Jimmy Jacobsen this continued into her late eighties.

Josie is survived by her daughters: Linda (Harvie) Tonne, and Debbie Baron; grandchildren: Tina Tonne, Kevin Tonne, Darlene (Joe) Tonne-Cartwright, Lisa (Daryn) Berry, Ryan (Michelle) Baron, and Jennifer (Jake) Hammell; great-grandchildren: Hannah Scott, Myles Scott, Destin Tonne, Ellie Cartwright, Jake Cartwright, Cameron Berry, Katie Berry, Drake Brown, Zaiden Brensen, Taylor Baron, and Grant Baron; twin great great-grandchildren Claire and Dante Scott to carry on her legacy; and also survived by her sister Hazel of Swan River, MB.

Josie was predeceased by her life partner Tom Jacobsen; her son in-law Grant Baron; great-granddaughter Avary Tonne; her parents; and her five brothers and three sisters.

A Graveside Service will be held at the Valleyview Cemetery on Friday, July 24, 2020, at 2:00pm. Please bring your own chair.

Due to COVID-19, a Celebration of life will take place at a later date.

A special thanks to the staff at the Red Willow Lodge for going out of their way in the loving care and respect given to Josie during her stay there. Also, extreme gratitude to the staff at the Valleyview Hospital, South Valley Residence, and the Grande Prairie Care Centre, for the care she received over the past year. There are no words for these angels that were there for Josie at the end of her life’s journey.