Pearl Jacobsen 1928-2025
Pearl De-Vee (McDonald) Jacobsen left us here on earth on July 17, 2025, peacefully after 97 years to enter Heaven’s eternity. She was tired and her work here was done. She told me I’d be OK and to carry on with my life, but the time had come for her to go now to be with Dad, Dale, Mark and the rest of our family and friends who were waiting for her on the other side. So I had to let her go. She separated her great spirit from her worn out body and she went on.
An only child born on April 5, 1928, to Lucy Pearl (Kness) McDonald and Claude Preston (Stub) McDonald in Geneva, Neb., she always said she loved being an only child and never, ever felt lonely. She felt blessed and lucky to be the only child of her loving parents. Our son (Mick) told us the same the other day!
Pearl was united in marriage to John B. (Jake/Jack) Jacobsen on March 1, 1947, in a double ring marriage ceremony along with a Jacobsen cousin of Jack’s. Children born into their union: Dale John Jacobsen (Carolyn); Bonita Fae (Sis) Stum (Wilbur); four grandchildren, Randy (Sandy) Jacobsen, Shane Jacobsen (Julie), Chad (Jamie) Jacobsen and Mick (Tami) Stum; eight great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Beverly Jacobsen and Pat Jacobsen Knutz; many nieces and nephews, great and great-great-nieces and nephew; and so many, many friends and “adopted” families. Pearl often said she’d be rich if she had a nickel for every person that sat at her table and ate a meal!
Pearl was preceded in death by her parents; husband John (2018); son Dale (2024); in-laws Marguerite and Clyde Jacobsen and Mark Morgan; four brothers-in-law; two sisters-in-law; and several of her beloved cats and dogs.
Pearl attended Geneva Grade and High School, graduating in 1945. She was the last surviving member of her class. Pearl went to work evenings and weekends while attending Geneva High School at the Geneva USPS during WWII. She earned 45 cents an hour to start and was earning $10.50 when she quit attending college. She also worked on the family farm.
After graduation Pearl attended Doan College at Crete, Neb., for 1 1/2 years, majoring in English and musical education. Tuition back then was $50 per semester. Pearl loved school, reading and teaching. Although she did not attend college long enough to earn her teaching certificate, as she left college to get married, she was able to use her knowledge to teach her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Pearl loved to play the piano and organ and sing songs, especially old hymns. Her favorite pastime was reading — she loved to read books and her local newspapers!
Pearl and Jake farmed while they lived in Nebraska and their children were born in Nebraska. They moved to a large ranch (known as the Lasswell Ranch) northeast of Emmett on their anniversary on March 1, 1956, when Dale was nine and Sis was not quite three. There, they ranched and took care of many cattle. In the winter, Jake hayed and fed cattle in the pastures with a team of horses and wagons.
The ranch house still stands today. In later years, Dale and Carolyn lived in it, as did Randy and Sandy.
Pearl and Jake soon got into furnishing livestock for rodeos with friends they met and eventually started Jacobsen Rodeo Company, which they owned and operated well into the 1980s! They earned many awards for their rodeo stock. They brought the “Brangus” breed of bulls to their Kansas rodeos from Orange, Texas on the Texas/Louisiana border, winning awards for such bulls as Purple People Eater, Cassius Clay and King of the Road I and II. They also had a big, dappled buckskin gelding registered Quarter Horse Saddle Bronc named “Big Buck,” which was sold to Hoss Inman, a PRCA Stock contractor, who bucked him at the Oklahoma City NFR Rodeo. Pearl, Jake, Sis and Wilb were there to see him buck, too!
Pearl was a stay-at-home mom and homemaker, while also helping with chores, gardening, canning, cooking, sewing and whatever else needed to be done. She was the secretary and timer for their rodeos. Pearl was a wonderful wife, loving mother, mother-in-law, aunt, sister-in-law, cousin, neighbor, mentor and a special friend to many. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and former member of the Delia EHU, both in Delia.
Pearl and other neighborhood wives did what was called a “pattern,” which was moving the extremities of a neighborhood baby boy born with cerebral palsy, working his arms and legs so as they would not freeze up, so he was able to move. This procedure helped Tim to live an extended life. She was a former member of rodeo associations: URA, SCA and IRA. Pearl was honored to have been named Rodeo Secretary of the Year in the URA. She lived a good long life and will be dearly missed.
Rest In Peace and God Speed, Momma, until we meet again. You will be so missed!
The family would like to extend a special thank you the staff of Peggy Kelly House 1 and Ascend Hospice for their excellent care and especially love that they gave to Pearl (Momma, Grandma or Pearly, as they so affectionately called her). Special thanks to Piper Funeral Home and staff.
A visitation will be held at Piper Funeral Home on Friday, Aug. 1, followed by a Celebration of Life on Saturday, Aug. 2. Burial of her cremated remains will take place later in the Fairmont, Neb. Cemetery with Jake, her parents, in-laws and other family members.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Pearl’s memory to the Pearl Jacobsen Memorial Fund and left at or sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple, St. Marys, KS 66536.
(PAID OBITUARY)
