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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Dear Members,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>It is with sadness that I share the passing of Marly Jacobson, mother of Steve Jacobson, our board member and immediate past president.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Although I did not know Marly personally, several of our members remember her fondly. Before memory loss made it difficult for her to remain involved, Marly was an avid reader of <i>the Braille Monitor</i>, attended board meetings in Rochester, and joined us for celebrations at the Walk for Opportunity.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Her obituary, along with visitation and funeral arrangements, appears below.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Please keep Steve, Nadine, Catherine, Elizabeth, and their family in your thoughts during this difficult time.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Corbb O'Connor (he/him), President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h1><a href="https://www.mackenfuneralhome.com/obituaries/marlys-jacobson">Marlys Mae (Erickson) Jacobson</a><o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Marlys Mae (Erickson) Jacobson was born on June 11, 1927, and passed away peacefully on July 14, 2026 at the age of 99. She grew up on a farm in Roscoe Township west of Pine Island in Goodhue county with six siblings, and graduated from Wanamingo High School. She worked as a lab technician until she married Oswald Kenneth (O. K.) Jacobson on December 2, 1949.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>After raising three children, she earnestly pursued several hobbies including knitting, quilting and ceramics, and she was a voracious reader. Nothing brought Marlys more joy than caring for her family. Her kitchen was the heart of her home, where she was famous for baking the very best chocolate chip cookies. Family and friends knew there was almost always a Tupperware container full of fresh cookies waiting to be shared. She also mastered the art of making perfect lefse and family-favorite mashed potatoes and gravy, meals that brought everyone happily around the table. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>She had a special gift for turning ordinary moments into treasured memories. Whether it was hosting dress-up dance parties in the living room with her grandchildren to songs like Elvira or celebrating New Year's Eve by banging pots and pans on the front steps at midnight, she made childhood magical. Her kindness, gentle spirit, and unwavering love for her family will be remembered always. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>She was preceded in death by her husband, Oswald, her parents Art and Regina (Ida) Erickson, her brother Lenny Erickson, and her sisters Verna Berg, Mary McLagan, Karen (Tessie) Harding, Loy Vogen and grandchild Vincent McCoy. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>She is survived by her children, Steve Jacobson (Nadine), Teresa McCoy, and Nathan Jacobson (Elinor), four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, her sister Evelyn Refsland, and her sister-in-law Alice Erickson with whom she has remained close.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The Funeral Service for Marlys will be held on Monday July 27, 2026 at 1:00p.m. in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with a reception to follow. Visitation will be held starting at 11:30AM prior to the service, at the chapel. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Rochester.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Memorials may be directed to Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="https://www.mackenfuneralhome.com/obituaries/marlys-jacobson">https://www.mackenfuneralhome.com/obituaries/marlys-jacobson</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>