Loa Carlene Jacobs Elliott, 91, was called home by the Lord on December 2, 2025. She was born on November 4, 1934, to Louis and Frances (Bargmann) Jacobs in Bradley, S.D. She spent the first few years of her life on the farm in Crocker before moving with her family to Clark. She graduated from Clark High School in 1952 and moved Sioux Falls with her mother soon after.
While in Sioux Falls, Loa attended and graduated from Nettleton Commercial College. She took a position with Sioux Steel, a company that produced corrugated grain bins. She spoke fondly of that job and was always on the lookout for "Sioux bins" on her road trips with her daughter.
Loa moved to the Kansas City area where she worked at Burns & McDonnell Engineering. Through mutual friends, she met and married Harold "Hal" Elliott in 1962, and the couple settled in Carbondale, Ill. Daughter Linda Ann and son James Gregory were born soon after. She was very involved in their lives, including being the best Girl Scout leader to fourth - sixth grade girls for three years.
Loa longed to continue her education and did so earning her bachelor's and master's degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She accepted a position teaching high school business education at Trico High School in Campbell Hill, Ill. and retired after 16 years; she loved those kids and did her best to make a difference in their lives.
Loa relocated to Belleville, Ill. in 1994, where she taught at Bits N Bytes Computer Training Center, teaching business skills to young women entering/re-entering the work force, making a difference in their lives with her continuous words of encouragement.
Loa lived in Illinois until 2021 and decided it was time to be closer to family. She spent three years in Scottsdale enjoying the warm Arizona sun—she loved it so much. Due to health concerns, she moved to Colorado Springs, Colo. to reside with her daughter until her death.
Loa is survived by her daughter Linda Elliott Townsend of Colorado Springs, son James Gregory Elliott of Mesa, Ariz., grandsons Jack (wife Skyler), Nick and Cole Townsend. She was preceded in death by her parents and her friend, Hal Elliott. She loved her family and her students dearly, striving to be a positive influence in their lives.
Her ashes are to be buried this summer in Broken Bow, Neb. when all of her family members can be present.
