Obituary

Marjorie (Marge) Backman, 92, Bellingham, WA, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother went to be with her loving Savior on January 4, 2025. She was born December 26, 1932, to Fred and Josephine (Kabylnick) Brezden in Wilton, ND.

Growing up in Wilton, Marge was part of the Ukrainian community. She enjoyed doing things with her family and was especially close to her sister, Jeanie. Marge graduated from Wilton High School in 1950. She married her high school sweetheart, Raymond Backman, on November 17, 1951. Due to Ray’s 20-year career in the Air Force, they lived in various places including, South Carolina, Eastern Washington, Seattle, Turkey, Maryland, eventually settling in Bellingham, a place she loved and called home. Marge worked various clerical jobs, which eventually led to her becoming the personnel manager at the Bellingham Sears store. Her last position before retirement was at Western Washington University in the Political Science Dept., where she played an important part with students and faculty. 

Ray and Marge have been actively involved in the Cornwall Church of God since the 1960s. Marge played an integral part in the church, serving as church treasurer, as a caregiver to MOPS, as treasurer of Service Missions Fellowship (SMF), and many other positions. Through their involvement with Cornwall, Marge and Ray developed life-long friendships. These friendships and connections were important to Marge, and she spent time developing deep relationships. 

Marge embraced technology and was always willing to learn more. She became interested in genealogy, which connected her with family old and new. She loved visiting and collecting lighthouses. Throughout the years, Marge and Ray enjoyed traveling to many places. After retirement, they spent the winter in the Palm Springs area. Each year she bought her grandchildren a special Hallmark Christmas ornament. It wouldn’t be a visit to the Backman home without Marge offering her famous molasses and peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.

Marge was preceded in death by her parents; her parents-in-law, Benton and Annie (Tosseth) Backman; her sister, Jeanie Shoman; nieces, Donna Lombardi and Cindy Sheely. 

Marge is survived by Ray, her husband of 73 years; daughter, Vicki (Jerry) Gable, Rowland Heights, CA and son, Thomas (Rosemarie) Backman, Claremont, CA; grandchildren, Ryan (Stephanie) Gable, Ross Gable, Megan (Marty) Klara, and Tab Backman; great-granddaughters, Sophia Gable and Lily Klara. Nieces Linda Miles, Joann Welch, Denise Roe, Debra Demarco, and nephew, Rick Backman. 

Viewing is scheduled on Tuesday, January 14, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Greenacres Chapel, 5700 Northwest Drive, Ferndale. A second viewing will be held on Wednesday, January 15, from 11:00 -12:00 PM at Greenacres Chapel, followed by the graveside service at Greenacres Memorial Park at 12:30 PM. A memorial service is planned for Thursday, January 30, 1:00 PM at Cornwall Church, 4518 Northwest Drive, Bellingham, WA.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Service Missions Fellowship (SMF), Cornwall Church, 4518 Northwest Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226.