Kay Joy Jacobson

On September 20, 2026, Kay Joy Jacobson peacefully left this world and went home to heaven, rejoining the loved ones she had lost far too soon. Her journey began on August 27, 1942, in Seattle, Washington, where her father, Weston, was stationed as a wartime ship welder alongside her loving mother, Isabella Strasser. Following the end of the war in 1945, the family moved back home to Dillon, Montana, where Weston started his own plumbing business.

From the very beginning, Kay was remarkably strong-willed, fiercely independent, and full of life and love, with a caring soul that shaped everything she did. These traits carried her through her graduation from Beaverhead County High School in 1960. It was during high school that Kay met her first husband, Raymond Peterson. Not long after graduation, Raymond entered the service and was stationed in Texas. Guided by her characteristic independence and determination, Kay made the long drive there, where the couple eloped.

Shortly after marrying Raymond, they returned to Montana to live on the family ranch in the Big Hole Valley, a place Kay would always hold dear to her heart. It was there that they welcomed their first son, Guy, in 1961. Kay absolutely loved everything about ranch life. Her family grew to include two more children, Jade in 1963 and Andrea in 1965. While raising her three children, Kay was fully immersed in the daily rhythm of the ranch. She worked tirelessly and was always ready to help with whatever needed doing-whether it was calving, haying, moving cattle, or cooking meals for the hay crew.

It was also during this time that Kay, alongside dear friends, embarked on her first business endeavor, The Calico Cottage. There, Kay beautifully showcased her signature talent and style. She had a rare gift for curation-knowing exactly how to stock perfect gifts for locals while effortlessly appealing to tourists looking for high-end western apparel. This venture ignited a lifelong identity as a skilled and dedicated businesswoman, a title she wore with immense pride throughout her life.

In 1983, Kay married the love of her life, Daryll Jacobson. Together, Kay and Daryll were true partners in both life and business, owning many businesses in the Big Hole Valley. They started with the Antler Saloon and later opened the Wisdom Gallery. Kay and Daryll poured much of their heart, soul, and shared vision into the business, meticulously crafting the woodwork, custom picture frames, and artistic décor that only they could envision, create, and proudly sell. Kay was also a skilled photographer, capturing the breathtaking beauty and lifestyle of the valley she loved so much. Through the gallery, she created and sold her own custom line of greeting cards featuring her stunning photos of the Big Hole Valley, sharing her unique perspective of Montana's beauty with locals and visitors alike.

When they weren't busy with their businesses, Kay and Daryll shared an immense love for creating a beautiful life at home, especially through caring for their yard. Many in the community would say they had one of the most beautiful yards in town. Visitors could often stop by for a visit-and, of course, a cup of coffee or glass of wine, depending on the time of day-and find Kay and Daryll working together outside. They were always pruning trees, pulling weeds, or creating the next seating area to share with family and friends. It was there that they also ran another one of their businesses, The Montana Lodge, a luxury cabin stay. Anyone who ever stayed in Kay and Daryll's cabin can attest to the beauty of the details within it.

In 2010, the Wisdom Gallery tragically burned down, prompting Kay and Daryll's final business endeavor, The Silvermine, which they built and ran up to her passing. Kay was a woman of many talents and lived life with a vibrant, adventurous spirit. In her younger years, she was known for her speed in ski racing and loved snowmobiling through the Montana winters with dear friends. She was a true daughter of the West-equally comfortable swinging a rope a n d riding a horse. Yet a m o n g all her adventures, one of her absolute favorite pastimes was simply enjoying the peace of the river, alongside Daryll. She loved to row the boat and accompany him on any of his fishing trips.

Above all her accomplishments and adventures, Kay had an immense love for her family and friends. She was blessed with many dear friends throughout her life, whom she felt very close to and considered a true extension of her family. Her love of life, pride in her accomplishments, and love for the people she held dear will be her greatest lasting legacy.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Weston and Isabella; her son, Jade; her daughter, Andrea; and her sister, Raecille Dawson.

Kay is survived by her beloved husband, Daryll Jacobson; her son, Guy (Raeni); her two grandsons, Calvin (Colette) and Jake (Dani); and her four precious great- granddaughters, Abbi, Josie, Hazel, and Janet. She is also survived by her brother-in- law, Jack Dawson; her niece, Trudy Dawson; her nephew, Matt Dawson; and her dear cousin, Scott Brown and family, alongside many close friends who meant the world to her.

A Celebration of Life will be Friday the 16th of October with a Dessert Pot Luck at The Antler & Feddys in Wisdom, MT from 2 to 4pm.