Edna Backhaus

Edna Backhaus, 83, of Bismarck, went to be with her Lord on January 2, 2015. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 9, 2015, at 2:00 p.m., at Bismarck Baptist Church, 2211 Laforest Avenue, Bismarck, with Rev. Brian Hochhalter officiating. Burial will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2015, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E Divide Ave, Bismarck, followed by a sharing service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. She was born on December 9, 1931, on a farm near Napoleon, ND, the ninth of ten children, to Carl and Marie Sukut Zimmerman. Edna graduated from Napoleon High School in 1950, taught at a country school one year before moving to Bismarck where she worked as a nurses aid and then for the Bismarck Tribune. In 1956, Edna married Earl Backhaus of Bismarck, originally from Madison, SD. Two years later, Earl's job with MDU moved them to Sidney, MT, for 13 years and then back to Bismarck. Between raising her seven children, baking, gardening, sewing, having guests into her home, and several church activities, Edna was always busy. Edna could often be found helping in the kitchen at Bismarck Baptist Church. Her daughters well remember the matching dresses she would sew for them, usually for Easter. At Christmas her baking always created an impressive display of goodies. Her garden was the source of fresh strawberries for Sunday breakfasts. Sunday dinners in her house were always a major affair. Edna also loved being outside in the yard tending her flowers. Later in life she worked as a cook at Wachter Middle school for 13 years and also did volunteer work with RSVP, being named Volunteer of the Year in 2004. She was an example of firm faith in her Lord and love for her family to all who met her. Edna is survived by a son, Myron Backhaus Fran of California; her five daughters, Nancy Blumhagen Curt of Minnesota, Patricia Veith Charles of Bismarck, Marla Anderson Todd of Tennessee, Dorinda Hammond Robert of Pennsylvania and Jennifer Janes Daniel of Fargo; a daughter-in-law, Connie Backhaus of Minnesota; 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl; her eldest son, Stanley; her six brothers; and her three sisters. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Psalms 116:15

Edna Backhaus

December 9, 1931 - January 2, 2015