Deanna Dell (Rolene) Baalman was born in Minot, North Dakota, on May 10, 1949 to Kenneth and Ora (Studebaker) Rolene.  When Deanna was in elementary school, the family moved to Vancouver, Washington, where she grew up and graduated from Hudson’s Bay High School in 1967.  She then 
attended Washington State University in Pullman, graduating in 1971 with a degree in Education and Office Administration.  Two weeks after graduation, on June 19, 1971 in Vancouver, she married John Baalman, whom she had met at WSU.

The young couple lived first in Tempe, Arizona, where their son David was born, but they soon moved to the Tri-Cities where they later welcomed their second child, Lori.  Deanna worked for the City of Richland for a short time before joining the faculty at Columbia Basin College to teach Office Administration, subsequently becoming head of the department.  After earning her Masters of Business Administration, she became Dean of Vocational Education at CBC.

In the 1990s, Deanna became the Administrator for Vocational Education for five small eastern Washington public schools and then moved on to assume the position of Administrator for Vocational Education for the Richland School District, retiring from there several years ago.  She also served on the Board of Directors for Tri-Cities Prep High School in Pasco, Washington, during its early years.

Deanna was a loving wife and mother.  She was an avid reader and enjoyed spending time on the Oregon coast with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents.  She is survived by her husband John, her son David and daughter Lori and two brothers, Kenneth (and his wife Jane) and Ronald, both of Vancouver.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at Christ the King Parish in Richland on Saturday, March 11 at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Deanna’s name may be sent to Tri-Cities Prep High School in Pasco, Washington.