{{Short description|Former First Lady of Idaho}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jacque Batt | nickname = | image = | order = First Lady of Idaho | term_label = In role | term_start = January 2, 1995 | term_end = January 4, 1999 | predecessor = Carol May Andrus | successor = Patricia Kempthorne | governor = Phil Batt | party = Republican Party | alma_mater = University of Idaho | birth_name = Jacque Elaine Fallis | birth_date = {{Birth date|1926|01|31}} | birth_place = Spokane, Washington, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2014|09|07|1926|01|31}} | death_place = Boise, Idaho, U.S. | spouse = {{marriage|Phil Batt|1948}} | children = 3 | relations = | signature = | profession = }}
'''Jacque Batt''' (née '''Fallis''', January 31, 1926 – September 7, 2014) was the First Lady of the U.S. state of Idaho while her husband Phil Batt was Governor of Idaho from January 2, 1995, to January 4, 1999. She was instrumental in founding the Pink Tea in 1998, an organization that raised money for free mammograms for women in need.<ref name="Metsker">{{cite news |last1=Metsker |first1=Meredith |title=A community in pink |url=http://dnews.com/local/a-community-in-pink/article_6ae94266-75fa-539a-95ab-1ccfe0b74e52.html |accessdate=29 December 2018 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |date=October 16, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Soroptimist">{{cite news |title=Projects of Service |url=https://www.soroptimistboise.org/files/Sorhist.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230080748/https://www.soroptimistboise.org/files/Sorhist.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 30, 2018 |accessdate=29 December 2018 |publisher=Soroptimist International of Boise, Idaho |pages=30–31 }}</ref>
== Biography == Jacque Elaine Fallis was born to Gordon and Mary Fallis on January 31, 1926.<ref name="obit">{{cite news |title=Jacque Elaine Fallis Batt, 1926 – 2014 |url=https://lmtribune.com/obituaries/jacque-elaine-fallis-batt/article_122d30f3-c268-5893-93cc-5837ac96440c.html |accessdate=24 October 2018 |publisher=Lewiston Tribune |date=September 10, 2014}}</ref> She had two brothers, Bill and Bob Fallis. She met Phil Batt at the University of Idaho, and eloped with him on January 9, 1948, in Potlatch, Idaho.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1947/98|publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook|title=Juniors|year=1947|page=96}}</ref><ref name="silver">{{cite news |title=Batts celebrate silver anniversary |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/25026605/?terms=%22Mrs%2BPhil%2BBatt%22 |accessdate=29 December 2018 |work=Idaho Free Press |date=29 January 1973 |page=11}}</ref>
She was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority at the University of Idaho.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1947/300|publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook|title=Delta Delta Delta|year=1947|page=300}}</ref> She was active in Republican party organizations, serving as president of the Canyon County Republican Women's Club in 1971,<ref>{{cite news |title=McClure Undecided About Senate Race |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/25190584/?terms=%22Mrs%2BPhil%2BBatt%22 |accessdate=29 December 2018 |work=Idaho Free Press |date=1 October 1971 |page=1}}</ref> and was also active in Legisladies, an organization for the wives of Idaho legislators, serving as its president in 1977.<ref>{{cite news |title=Unit Elects |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/408606643/?terms=%22Mrs%2BPhil%2BBatt%22 |accessdate=29 December 2018 |work=The Times-News |date=26 January 1977 |location=Twin Falls, Idaho |page=27}}</ref> She worked with her successor Patricia Kempthorne to found the Pink Tea in 1998, an organization that raised money for free mammograms for women in need.<ref name="Metsker"/><ref name="Soroptimist"/> She also worked as a volunteer phoning mothers to remind them about their children's immunizations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Septuplets to receive Idaho help |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/395287509/?terms=%22Jacque%2BBatt%22 |accessdate=29 December 2018 |work=The Times-News |date=10 February 1998 |location=Twin Falls, Idaho |page=17}}</ref> She was known for her humble attitude to the role of First Lady, being reported to take the household washing to a laundromat.<ref>{{cite news |title=Editorial: Governor who wields ax should share the pain |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/395312875/?terms=%22Jacque%2BBatt%22 |accessdate=30 December 2018 |work=The Times-News |date=4 December 2008 |location=Twin Falls, Idaho |page=6}}</ref>
Batt was active in the Ninety-Nines, a women's airplane pilot organization,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Black |first1=Roberta |title=The Ladies Air Derby From Boise To Kellogg |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/32210709 |accessdate=29 December 2018 |work=Idaho Free Press Weekender Magazine |date=3 July 1965 |pages=12–13}}</ref> which she joined in 1963. Batt served as the secretary of the Idaho chapter in 1966, and later as Idaho Chapter Chairman.<ref name="Ninety-Nine News">{{cite journal |last1=Batt |first1=Jacque |title=Ninety-Nine News |date=September 1965 |page=25 |url=https://www.ninety-nines.org/pdf/newsmagazine/196509.pdf |accessdate=29 December 2018}}</ref> She competed in the Idaho Air Race with the Ninety-Nines, and flew into Mexico and Canada.<ref name="Jessen">{{cite journal |last1=Jessen |first1=Gene Nora |title=Jacque Batt |journal=99 News |date=November–December 2014 |volume=40 |issue=6 |page=30 |url=https://www.ninety-nines.org/pdf/newsmagazine/20141112.pdf |accessdate=29 December 2018}}</ref> She also donated to the organization.<ref name="Ninety-Nines Inc.">{{cite news |title=The International Women Pilot's Magazine |url=https://www.ninety-nines.org/pdf/newsmagazine/19960910.pdf |accessdate=29 December 2018 |date=September–October 1996 |ref=Ninety-Nines Inc.}}</ref>
She had three children with Phil: William, Rebecca, and Leslie Ann.<ref name="obit" /><ref name="silver"/>
Batt died September 7, 2014, and was survived by her husband, whom she had been married to for 66 years.<ref name="Magic Valley">{{cite news |title=Former Idaho First Lady Dies |url=https://magicvalley.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/former-idaho-first-lady-dies/article_854361b8-37a0-11e4-98a4-001a4bcf887a.html |accessdate=23 October 2018 |publisher=Magic Valley |date=September 8, 2014}}</ref> When Batt died, Idaho Governor Butch Otter released the following statement: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jacque Batt. We will never forget the enduring strength of her 66-year marriage to Governor Phil Batt and her grace as Idaho's First Lady. She was a deeply caring and compassionate woman who left us all better for having known her. Our thoughts and prayers are with Governor Batt, his family and all those who knew and loved Jacque."<ref name="Statement">{{cite news |title=GOVERNOR OTTER AND FIRST LADY MOURN PASSING OF JACQUE BATT, WIFE OF FORMER GOVERNOR PHIL BATT |url=https://gov.idaho.gov/mediacenter/press/pr2014/9%20September/pr_54.html |accessdate=23 October 2018 |issue=September 8, 2014 |publisher=State of Idaho |archive-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024035845/https://gov.idaho.gov/mediacenter/press/pr2014/9%20September/pr_54.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{S-start}} {{Succession box|title=First Lady of Idaho|before=Carol May Andrus|after=Patricia Kempthorne|years=January 2, 1995-Jan. 4, 1999}} {{S-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Batt, Jacque}} Category:First ladies and gentlemen of Idaho Category:Idaho Republicans Category:1926 births Category:2014 deaths Category:University of Idaho alumni