Kern County Obituaries

Rhea Dawn Jacobsen

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Source Unknown; Date Unknown

Oct. 25, 1907 – July 25, 2004
A graveside service was held on Wednesday, 
Aug. 25 at Tehachapi Public Cemetery for Rhea 
Dawn Jacobsen. The service was officiated by 
Rev. Wesley Clare, vicar of St. Jude's-in-the-
Mountains Episcopal Church.
Rhea Dawn was born in Lawrence, Kan., Oct. 25, 
1907, to Kelley and Florence Wells. The family, 
including older sister Helen, moved to 
Farmington, N.M., then to Durango, Colo.
She graduated from the University of Colorado 
at Boulder, class of 1929, and then taught 
school.
She married William Clinton Billig in 1931; they 
and their three children lived in Arcadia until 
1957. She was widowed then and moved to 
Santa Barbara to be near her children.
In 1971, she met J.C. "Jake" Jacobsen of 
Tehachapi. They were married July 31, 1972. 
They built a home on Old Town Road, where 
they lived very happily, entertaining their many 
family members and friends. They enjoyed 
traveling and being involved in their church, St. 
Jude's, and the community.
Rhea Dawn was an avid reader, especially 
enjoying all kinds of history. She was a founding 
member of the local American Association of 
University Women (AAUW) and promoted 
literacy of all kinds.
"Jake" Jacobsen died in 1991. He had been 
mayor of Tehachapi and honored for active 
community life by having the junior high school 
and reservoir bear his name.
Rhea Dawn moved to Vista Del Monte, a 
retirement home in Santa Barbara, in 1996. She 
died there very peacefully with her three 
children, Cynthia, Jim and John, with her.
She is also survived by her grandchildren and 
great-grandchildren and by her step-children, Ed 
Jacobsen and his family, and Joan Jacobsen and 
children, both formerly of Tehachapi.
Rhea Dawn often said that her life in Tehachapi 
with J.C. Jacobsen was the happiest times of her 
long life.
Memorial donations may be made in her name to 
St. Jude's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 278, 
Tehachapi, CA 93581.

NOTE: Photo At: http://www.calarchives4u.com/photos/kern/