PLAINS – Lela Mae Baalman Jacobs, 88, long-time resident of Plains, KS and Dodge City, KS, passed away June 28 in Wichita, Kansas. Mae, the daughter of Joseph and Walburga Robben Baalman, was born in Oakley, Kansas. As a child, Mae lived in Wellington, Winfield, and Oxford, KS. She and her sister, Jeanie, lacking funds to purchase store-bought toys but having abundant imagination, made mud pies, built playhouses, made paper dolls from magazines and built high-heeled shoes from wood scraps. When Mae was 11 years old, they moved to Dodge City. She was a fun-loving teenager, who enjoyed speech and plays and driving the teachers crazy. She graduated from St. Mary’s of the Plains Highs School in 1953. Immediately after graduation, she began working as a bookkeeper at Southwest Oil and Supply. Mae briefly left Dodge City to live with Jeanie and her husband, Cap in Dearborn, Michigan, before returning to Dodge City. In 1957, she began dating Cap’s brother, Gerald Jacobs. She moved to Liberal, Kansas, to be closer to Gerald and worked as a bookkeeper at Doll Motor Co. The two were married August 30, 1958. They made their home on the farm in Plains, where they raised four children.
Mae dedicated the rest of her life to being a meticulous homemaker, which coined her the nickname “Mrs. Clean.” She prepared meals daily and often delivered them to the field. She was the financial manager of the family farm, along with driving grain trucks during harvest. She was an active member of the Altar Society at their church. A dedicated mother and grandmother, she enjoyed attending their many activities. In 1993, Gerald and Mae retired and moved to Dodge City. This allowed her to pursue her hobbies: antiques, shopping, reading, gambling, and collecting everything – especially Beanie Babies. In 2021, when her health declined, she moved to Wichita to be near her daughter, Dana.
Mae is survived by her four children: Lori Fleming and husband Rich of Copeland, KS; Rhonda Cook and husband Dave of Parker, AZ; Shawn Jacobs and wife Kathy of Plains; and Dana Handy and husband Jerrod of Wichita; her 10 grandchildren: Cami Faust and husband Mike of Houston, TX; Brendon Cook and wife April of Flagstaff, AZ; Taly Thiessen and husband Mark of Houston, TX; Savannah Downing and husband Marc of Ellis, KS; Brandi Gomez and husband John of Lake Havasu City, AZ; Rani Simon and husband Bryce of Lakin, KS; Deni Thill and husband Nolan of Garden City, KS; Rebi Ross and husband Kelby of Plains; Daley Handy and fiancé, Justin Mann, of Independence, KS; and Jacey Handy of Wichita; 21 great-grandchildren and one sibling: Lois Gish of Lake Elsinore, CA. Mae was preceded in death by her husband Gerald; her parents; two brothers, Clifford and Neil Baalman; and four sisters, Bernice Smith, Ethlyn Nixon, Mary Ann Baalman, and Nyla Jean Jacobs.
Visitation will be Monday, July 10, from 9 am – 3 pm at Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary in Meade, KS. The vigil and celebration of life will be Monday, July 10 at 7 p.m. and the funeral Mass will be Tuesday, July 11, at 10 a.m., both at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Plains. Memorials to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, where Mae was a long-time member.
Personal condolences may be given to the family at www.fidlerormebachmanmortuary.com
