Carola 'Carrie' Jackson

Carola Helga (Kimball) Jackson, otherwise known as Carrie, passed away peacefully on December 8, 2025 surrounded by her family after a 12-year battle against Alzheimer’s. Until the end, her focus was on her family and faith. A phrase that truly encapsulates her philosophy is, “One day at a time, sweet Jesus, that’s all I’m asking of you.” She lived one day at a time thankful for what God had given her and the family surrounding her. Carrie died in the home she shared with her daughter, Laura and her family. Each of her children talked to her and her life-long friend Mary came to bid her goodbye. Each evening for the past year, her eldest daughter, Laura sang hymns to her as she went to sleep. In the end, Carrie passed away while Laura sang “Amazing Grace.” The moment of peace and grace was profound. Carrie leaves a lasting impression on those who called her wife, mother, sister, nana, friend, colleague, and teacher. She lived a life of compassion and knowledge as she used her talent as a teacher to inspire others to love reading and knowledge as much as she loved it. 

Carrie was born in Wiesbaden, Germany on March 6, 1950. She emigrated to the United States with her mother and brother. Upon arriving in the United States, Carrie developed an abiding love for her new country and was deeply patriotic. She joined the military in the Women’s Army Corp in August of 1969. She attended physical therapy school at Ft. Sam where she met Don D. Jackson on February 14, 1970 and married one month later on March 14, 1970. They were transferred to Washington DC and Carrie was given an honorable discharge when she discovered that she was going to have her daughter, Laura. Don was transferred to Germany; however, before they left, Carrie attained one of her proudest achievements – her American citizenship. They moved throughout Germany and were eventually transferred to Ft. Ord, California. There, they had two more children, Don Michael Jackson and Victoria Jackson. Upon separating from active duty, Don joined the National Guard, and they moved to Vernon, TX. Carrie began her collegiate career at Vernon Regional College. She earned an associate’s degree while raising three children and maintaining several jobs. In 1984, the family moved to Wakonda, SD to be closer to Carrie’s mother. She went to the University of South Dakota and obtained a Bachelor’s in Education and embarked on a life-long career as an educator. During this time, she had her youngest daughter, Jaimie Jackson. She would eventually earn her Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist. She taught in the Wakonda school district and would eventually work for the Department of Defense Dependents Schools. She taught the children of servicemen and women who were stationed in Japan. Upon retirement, she moved to Canton, SD to be closer to her oldest daughter, Laura. At the core of Carrie’s life was faith and family. Carrie was a servant leader who joined the Bethany Reformed Church where she taught Sunday School and helped with the GEMS.

Upon her diagnosis with Alzheimer’s, Carrie began her long fight against the loss of memory and life. Carrie is preceded in death by her loving mother, Anna Katharina Mayer and her devoted brother Jerry Kimball. Carrie is survived by her husband, Don Jackson of Alcester, SD; her daughter, Laura Jacobs and son-in-law, David Jacobs of Alcester, SD; her grandchildren, Wyatt Jacobs and AnnaLee Jacobs of Alcester, SD; her son, Don M. Jackson and daughter-in-law, Katy Jackson of Andover, MN; her grandchildren, Lily Jackson, Abby Jackson, and Lexie Jackson of Andover, MN; her daughter, Victoria Howes and son-in-law, Ryan Howes of Niceville, FL, her grandchildren, Claudia (Howes) Smith of Baker, FL and Bailey Howes of Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter, AL; great-grandchildren, Dorothea (Rory) Smith and Serafina (Sera) Smith of Baker, FL; her daughter, Jaimie Vowels and son-in-law, Nick Vowels of Shelbyville, KY; and grandchildren, Cadence Vowels and Melody Vowels of Shelbyville, KY. 

Mom, we will miss you more than we can possibly express. We will miss your love, your compassion, your wit and your fight. Above all, we will miss your hugs and await the time that we can feel your arms around us once again. Thank you for your words of wisdom, the occasional kick in the pants when we needed it, your strong work ethic, and your faith. Throughout our life, your guidance helped to shape us into the people we are today, and we cannot thank you enough. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 20th at 2:00 p.m. at Bethany Reformed Church at 702 W. Seventh St, Canton, SD. An interment at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Sioux Falls, SD will be held this summer on a date to be determined.