Harley E. Backous (1893-1925)

BACKOUS, DURAND, PETERSON

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 5/19/2005 at 23:02:29

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, November 12, 1925, page 1, column 2. ‘HARLEY E. BACKOUS Harley E. Backous, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Backous, formerly of the Collins community, died Thursday at his home near Wetonka, S. D. The following obituary was taken from a recent issue of the Aberdeen, S. D., paper. Harley Earl Backous, age 32, prominent farmer of the Wetonka vicinity, passed away at his home on Thursday afternoon, November 5, 1925, at 3:10, following a brief illness of only four days’ duration. His death was caused by a severe attack of pneumonia. The deceased was born on December 31, 1893, at Collins, Iowa, where he grew to young manhood. At sixteen years of age he came with is parent to South Dakota, locating at Wetonka. When twenty-four years old he was united in marriage to Bernice Durand, of Wetonka. To this union was born four children, Della Marie, age 7; Gladys Edna, age 5; Irene Margaret, age 3, and Lois Frances, age ten months. Mr. Backous was a man of exceptionally fine character and a most kind and devoted husband. His untimely demise comes as a great shock to a large host of friends, and his absence will be keenly felt in the home. He leaves, besides his wife and children, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Backous, of Wetonka; one sister, Mrs. Pete Peterson, of Wetonka; and five brothers, Charles and Sam, of Collins, Iowa; Walter, of Westport; Floyd and Jesse, of Wetonka. The deceased was a member of the Brotherhood of American Yeoman, and During the World war served his country as a member of the 89th Division, Battery A, of the Field Artillery. Mr. Backous was on front line duty for fifty-five days and was one of the last soldiers to leave France. Funeral services were held from the Hubel Chapel on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 with Rev. Grant Tooker, of Wetonka, officiating. Burial was made at Riverside cemetery.