Margaret Barbara Backes (Kinzer), age 92, of Dassel, Minnesota, passed away on June 25, 2024. A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Darwin with Father Jeffrey Horejsi officiating. Interment of the urn will be held at St. John’s Catholic Church cemetery following the service.
Margaret Barbara Backes (Kinzer), was born on September 7, 1931, to John and Mary Kinzer (Boeckmann) on their family farm near Cold Spring, Minn. Beginning at the age five, Margaret contributed to the family farm, performing a variety of tasks such as milking cows, feeding calves, canning, rounding up cattle on horseback, planting crops, and harvesting.
As a teen, Margaret moved to Bozeman, Montana with her sister, Helen, working at the Woolworth’s candy department. While in Montana, she joined the bowling team and scored a perfect game. Later she returned to Minnesota, working as a page at the State Capitol and a nurse’s aide on the maternity ward at both the St. Cloud Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital.
Margaret married David Backes on May 5, 1956, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring, Minn. The couple lived in Davenport, Iowa and Austin, Minn. before moving to Dassel, Minn. in 1958, when they bought the Dassel Bakery. They lived above the bakery for a short time until building their home near Spring Lake in Dassel.
Besides working at the bakery, Margaret was a nurse’s aide at the Dassel Lakeside Nursing Home and became a favorite of many residents. For 17 years she was employed by the Dassel-Cokato School District as a bus driver. Her ability to navigate her bus through Minneapolis made her a prized driver, as few others would make the trip.
Margaret had a passion for dance and attended Authur Murray’s Dance Studio, especially enjoyed Latin and Big Band dances. An avid reader, she collected and read hundreds of books. She was dedicated to her faith and taught religious classes. Other favorite pastimes included crafts, creating floral arrangements, shopping, and watching birds and rabbits in the backyard.
Margaret is survived by her loving husband, David Backes, her children: Carol (Linden) Hermel, David (Susan) Backes, Mary (Bill) Yackley, Elizabeth (Wayne) Herberg, and Joseph (Cari) Backes; her 13 grandchildren: Jeremy, Melissa, John, Garrett, Stephanie, Andrew, Grant, Heather, Austin, Samantha, Madelyn, Elena, and Samuel; her 13 great-grandchildren: Valerie, Masie, Devin, Marlo, Lily, Evie, James, Isaac, Ryleigh, Logan, Amelia, Lauren, and Russell (with two more on the way); and two great-great-grandchildren: Lana and Casey and her sisters, Helen and Betty, along with many loved nieces and nephews.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Kinzer (Boeckmann); her brothers, Jack, Peter, Francis, Joseph, Adolf, Al, Arthur; her sisters, Ardelle, Catherine, Mary, and Rose; and her great-grandson, Dominic.
The Johnson Funeral Home in Dassel is in charge of the Mass of Christian Burial.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis at https://-sharingandcaringhands.org or Birthright of Hutchinson at 218 Main St. South, Suite 132, Hutchinson, Minnesota, 55350; https://-birthright.org/hutchinsonmn.
