Pearl De-Vee Jacobsen

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 & her work here was done. She told me I’d be ok & to carry on with my life, but the time had come for her to go now to be with Dad, Dale, Mark & the rest of our family & 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 & she went on.

An only child born on April 5, 1928, to Lucy Pearl (Kness) McDonald & Claude Preston (Stub) McDonald in Geneva, Nebr. She always said she loved being an only child & never, ever felt lonely. She felt blessed & 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); Grandchildren, 4, Randy (Sandy) Jacobsen, Shane Jacobsen (Julie), Chad (Jamie) Jacobsen. Mick (Tami) Stum; Great Grandchildren – 8, Great-Great Grandchildren - 8, Sister-in-laws: Beverly Jacobsen & Pat Jacobsen Knutz; Many Nieces & Nephews, Great & Great-Great Nieces & Nephews. And so many, many friends & “adopted” families. Pearl often said she’d be rich if she had a nickel for every person that sat at her table & ate a meal!

Pearl was preceded in death by her parents; husband John (2018); son Dale (2024); In-laws Marguerite & Clyde Jacobsen, Mark Morgan, four brothers-in-law & two sisters-in-law. And several of her beloved cats & dogs.

Pearl attended Geneva Grade & High School graduating in 1945. She was the last surviving member of her class. Pearl went to work evenings & weekends while attending Geneva High School at the Geneva USPS during WWII. She earned $.45 an hour to start & was earning $10.50 when she quit to attend college. She also worked on the family farm.

After graduation Pearl attended Doan College at Crete, Nebr. for 1 1/2 years majoring in English & Musical Education. Tuition back then was $50 per semester. Pearl loved school, reading & 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 & great-grandchildren. Pearl loved to play the piano & organ & sing songs - especially old hymns. Her favorite past time was reading - she loved to read books & her local newspapers!!

Pearl & Jake farmed while they lived in Nebraska & their children were born in Nebraska. They moved to a large ranch (known as the Lasswell Ranch) NE of Emmett, KS on their Anniversary on March 1, 1956, when Dale was 9 & Sis was not quite 3. There, they ranched & took care of many cattle. In the winter, Jake hayed & fed cattle in the pastures with a team of horses & wagons.

The ranch house still stands today. In later years, Dale & Carolyn lived in it, as did Randy & Sandy.

Pearl & Jake soon got into furnishing livestock for rodeos with friends they met & eventually started Jacobsen Rodeo Company, which they owned & operated well into the 1980’s! 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 & King of the Road I & 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 & Wilb were there to see him buck, too!!!

Pearl was a stay-at-home Mom & homemaker, while also helping with chores, gardening, canning, cooking, sewing & whatever else needed to be done. She was the Secretary & Timer for their rodeos. Pearl was a wonderful Wife, Loving Mother, Mother-In-Law, Aunt, Sister-In-Law, Cousin, Neighbor, Mentor & a special friend to many. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church & former member of the Delia EHU, both in Delia, KS. Pearl & 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 & 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 & IRA. Pearl was honored to have been named Rodeo Secretary of the Year in the URA. She lived a good long life & will be dearly missed.

Rest In Peace & 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 & Ascend Hospice for their excellent care & especially love that they gave to Pearl (Momma, Grandma or Pearly as they so affectionately called her.) Special thanks to Piper Funeral Home & Staff.

A Visitation will be held at Piper Funeral Home on Friday, August 1, 2025, followed by a Celebration of Life on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Burial of her cremated remains will take place later in the Fairmont, NE 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 & left at or sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple, St. Marys, KS 66536.