Obituary of Helen Backus

Helen Ruth Backus, 81, of Bainbridge, died Tuesday, January 10, 2011 at Wilson Memorial Hospital, Johnson City. She was born July 4, 1930 at home on Neff Hill in Bainbridge, daughter of Theodore and Leona Fineout Frank. She married Lewis "Fritz" Robert Backus on July 15, 1951 in Bainbridge, who predeceased her. Helen, along with her brother Ed and sister Pauline grew up on a dairy farm on Neff Hill. Helen and Ed did the haying on the farm with two large draft horses, King and Dan, who Helen always remembered fondly. Helen and her husband, Fritz, took over the farm until they retired from that business. They then worked together as owners of His n Hers Deer Shop and a small firewood business while Fritz was employed at Scintilla and subsequently Bendix Corporation in Sidney. Helen was a childcare provider for many local families and helped raise her two grandchildren. She had a large family garden and Helen spent many hours canning and freezing vegetables to feed everyone. She enjoyed baking and always had homemade snacks for the grandchildren when they got off the school bus. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Theodore and Marilyn Backus, of Anchorage, AK; a son Frank Backus, of Bainbridge; and a daughter and son-in-law Lee and Everett Brown of Bainbridge. She has three grandchildren, Joyce (Brown) Klaus, married to Nathan Klaus, of Culloden, GA; William Brown of Sidney; and Justin Backus of Anchorage, AK. Helen has two great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Ellie Brown of Sidney. Helen is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law Ed and Sandy Frank of Sidney; and sister-in-law, Margaret Ford and her husband Fred. She has one sister who predeceased her, Pauline Burman. Graveside services will be held on April 28, 2012 at 1:00 PM in Glenwood Cemetery in Afton. Condolences may be sent to the family online to www.landersfh.com Donations in Helen's name may be sent to the Bainbridge Fire Department West Main St. Bainbridge, NY. Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel 21 Main St. Sidney.