Phyllis L. (Helle) Jacobson, 85, of Lyle, Minnesota, died of ALS on Saturday, May 21, 2016, at her home, with her family at her side.

Phyllis was born to Almer and Stella (Johnson) Christianson on June 23, 1930. She attended country school through the eighth grade, graduating from Blooming Prairie High School in 1948. Following high school, she received her degree from Minneapolis Business College. On May 18, 1952, Phyllis was united in marriage to Hans Helle at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church. She worked at the Great Lakes Naval Base where Hans was stationed. Following Hans’ return from the Korean War, the couple made their home on El Toro Marine Base in California. In 1954, they returned to Minnesota and moved to the Helle family farm near Lyle, where they raised two children, Jeffrey and Catherine. Phyllis was employed as a secretary at the Hormel Corporate Office for almost 40 years. Hans passed away in 1994. In 2003, she married Leon Jacobson at Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church in rural Lyle. Phyllis was a warm and caring wife and mother, and a fun and active grandma to her six grandsons. Known for her delicious lefse and divinity, she loved to entertain guests and was kind and generous, always sending (Hallmark) greeting cards and routinely visiting the sick and those in nursing homes. Phyllis had a strong faith in God, and was a devout member of Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church. She had belonged to the Hormel Girls Coffee Club since 1954, and was a faithful volunteer for many organizations in the area. Phyllis enjoyed traveling, dancing, reading, playing cards and dominoes with her friends, the colors blue and purple, and going barefoot. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Survivors include her husband Leon Jacobson of rural Lyle, son Jeffrey (Kathryn) Helle of Lyle, daughter Catherine (Chris) Roser of Rose Creek; grandsons Marty Helle (Valerie McCarty), Mitchell (Jessica) Helle-Morrissey, Brian (April) Helle, Benjamin (Stephanie) Roser, Scott (Kara) Roser, Casey (Marta) Roser; great-grandchildren Danica Helle, Oskar, Henry and Alice Helle-Morrissey, Brody, Justin and Lara Helle, Cameron and Kevin Roser-Peet; siblings Alan (Lois) Christianson, Ann (Dave) Bardouche, Jean Lee, Sharon (Dave) Fogal, Brian (Donna) Christianson, Lynn Christianson; Leon’s children Tom (Kristie) Jacobson, Scot (Mary) Jacobson, Nancy (Eric) Fressle, Lois (Doug) Nash and their families; sisters-in-law Ruth (Sheldon) Lukes, Fern Johnson; many wonderful cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents Almer and Stella Christianson, her husband Hans Helle, sister Ramona (Mason) Mace, and sister-in-law Charlene Christianson.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2016, at Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church, rural Lyle, Minnesota. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin and one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Interment will be in Six Mile Grove Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials can be directed to the ALS Association, the American Red Cross, or recipient of donor’s choice. Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.