Jaqueline Ecoff

    Jacqueline Virginia Balser Young Ecoff,  89, of Sioux Falls, S.D., died Jan. 7, 2012. Services will be held in St. Louis with internment at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Central Florida Women’s Club, PO Box 143, Fruitland Park, FL  34731 and Dow Rummel Village, 1321 W. Dow Rummel St., Sioux Falls, SD  57104.

    Jacque’ was born June 12, 1922, in St. Louis, Mo., daughter of Otto and Emily (Scott) Balser. She was raised with her five siblings in Webster Groves, Mo.  During her high school years, Jacque’ was active in a wide variety of social, civic and athletic groups.  She attended Mac Murray College in Jacksonville, Ill., and Fontbonne, in St. Louis.
    Jacque’ was married Nov. 24, 1945, to Robert Wayne Young. She and Robert moved to Clear Lake, where they owned Young’s Variety, a retail store, and raised three daughters. Jacque’ and Robert retired to Florida in 1985, living in Tallahassee and Leesburg. Jacque’ and Robert were married 47 years until his death in 1993. Jacque’ married David Wells Ecoff , a family friend from childhood, in 1995. Following Dave’s death in 2010, Jacque’ moved to Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls.  Jacque’ enjoyed the Dow Rummel retirement community where she made new friends and participated in a variety of social, spiritual and wellness programs.
    Jacque’ will be remembered for her warmth, generosity, kindness, commitment to others, quiet faith and love of life.  She was a homemaker and seamstress, known for her creative talents.  She worked with her husband in the family retail business and, later, became an insurance agent, serving north Iowa. She was an active member of her church, teaching in the church pre-school for many years.  She served several terms as president or regent of the service clubs in her communities including DAR, TTT and Women’s Club.  Volunteer activities for which she was recognized included interviewing over 60 veterans for the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress, sewing many items for Operation Smile, sorting stamps for Habitat for Humanity, and contributing her creative talents and sewing to various Women’s Club projects.
    Jacque’ is survived by her twin sister, Jeanne Singer; her brothers, Doug Balser and Bob Balser, all of Missouri; her daughters, Vickie (Tom) Sylvester, Sioux Falls, Kathy (Steve) Palmer, Havana, Fla., and Terry (Norm) Arons, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 12 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. 
    She is preceded in death by her husbands and two sisters.
    An online guest book is available at www.millerfh.com.