Lenora Backhaus

Lenora Backhaus dies January 1

Lenora Backhaus, 85, died January 1 at Bel Air Manor in Gering. She was born December 3, 1889 at Popejoy, Iowa, the daughter of George and Maud "Nolton" McElhaney. She moved to Wheatland, Wyo. with her parents in 1899, traveling in a covered wagon.

She grew up and went to school at Wheatland and was married to Chester Hopkins there on March 16, 1911.

Following the death of Mr. Hopkins in 1917, she moved to a homestead in Sioux County, Neb. She married William A. Backhaus on March 29, 1922 at Torrington and they lived on a homestead in the Burge Community, 32 miles north of Torrington. Mr. Backhaus died in 1943 and Mrs. Backhaus continued to live on the homestead until 1968 where she moved to Bel-Air Manor in Gering.

She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Irene Phipps of Harrison and Mrs. Emma B. Baumgardner of Stone, Idaho.; by six sisters, Mrs. Valeta Leeper of Weiser, Idaho, Mrs. Nettie Merrick of Sacramento, Calif., Mrs. Esther Ferguson of Morrill; Mrs. Lillian Sperry of Mitchell, Mrs. Mrs. Muriel Bokelman of Sun City, Ariz.; Mrs. June Parr of Payette, Idaho and one brother James McElhaney of Escondido, Calif. She is also survived by five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sons, four sisters and one brother.

Funeral services were held at the Colyer Funeral Home on Saturday, Jan. 4, 1975 at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Eugene West officiating.

Interment was in Valley View Cemetery at Torrington.

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