She was born November 11, 1904, the 10th child born to John and Margaret (Sauer) Keller, at Questad, Muskego township and was reared and educated in the Foxholm-Glenburn area. The farmstead she grew up on was flooded out when Lake Darling was created.
On November 25, 1924, she married Leonard Backes, a neighbor boy, in St. Henry's Catholic Church, rural Glenburn. In the spring after their marriage they moved to a farm near Glenburn in Renville County. On this farm they raised a family of six children. In 1945 they opened the Backes Grocery and Locker plant in Glenburn and she was very active in the business for 25 years.
Two of their children died in the service of their country. Lt. Harold J Backes died in 1955 in a Naval jet crash. Lt. Commander Merle "Bud" Backes died in 1965 when he was killed parachuting from his stricken jet.
Leonard died September 12, 1977, and she had since lived in Glenburn where she spent virtually all of her life.
She had been very active in Glenburn Senior Citizens and St. Philomena's Church and had been treasurer of the church cemetery for many years.
Survivors: daughter, Estelle Hohman; sons, Richard, Orlin and Roger; 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She was the last surviving member of the John Keller family of 11 children.
She was born November 11, 1904, the 10th child born to John and Margaret (Sauer) Keller, at Questad, Muskego township and was reared and educated in the Foxholm-Glenburn area. The farmstead she grew up on was flooded out when Lake Darling was created.
On November 25, 1924, she married Leonard Backes, a neighbor boy, in St. Henry's Catholic Church, rural Glenburn. In the spring after their marriage they moved to a farm near Glenburn in Renville County. On this farm they raised a family of six children. In 1945 they opened the Backes Grocery and Locker plant in Glenburn and she was very active in the business for 25 years.
Two of their children died in the service of their country. Lt. Harold J Backes died in 1955 in a Naval jet crash. Lt. Commander Merle "Bud" Backes died in 1965 when he was killed parachuting from his stricken jet.
Leonard died September 12, 1977, and she had since lived in Glenburn where she spent virtually all of her life.
She had been very active in Glenburn Senior Citizens and St. Philomena's Church and had been treasurer of the church cemetery for many years.
Survivors: daughter, Estelle Hohman; sons, Richard, Orlin and Roger; 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She was the last surviving member of the John Keller family of 11 children.
Family Members
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Mathilda Elizabeth "Tillie" Keller Bloms
1885–1956
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Elizabeth Keller
1887–1887
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Margaret Barbara "Maggie" Keller Bloms
1888–1982
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John Mathias Keller
1891–1962
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Mary Ann Keller Gruntjes
1893–1974
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Gertrude Catherine Keller Schmitz
1895–1969
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William Joseph Keller
1898–1918
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Philip Keller
1900–1901
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Cecelia Agnes Keller Clementich
1902–1942
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Sr Marie de la Salette (Adeline) Keller
1908–1947
