Alden Backman

Alden Henry Backman was born on September 4, 1931 in Chisholm, Minnesota to Karl W. and Hilda S. (Okerlund) Backman, Swedes who came to this country from Finland. He grew up in Chisholm and graduated from High School in 1949. Shortly after graduation he went with his father to Finland to visit relatives for eight months, returning to Chisholm in 1950. Alden worked for three years as a parts man and later as Parts Manager for the Ford Garage in Chisholm. He left that position in 1953 to attend Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, to prepare for becoming a Lutheran Pastor. In 1956, Alden finished his studies at Gustavus and returned to Chisholm to serve as Lay Pastor for First Lutheran Churches in Chisholm and Buhl. During this time Alden was joined in marriage to Susan E. Matteson in Rock Island, Illinois. Alden and Susan moved to Rock Island where he attended the Augustana Lutheran Seminary, and Susan continued her career as a teacher. Alden graduated from the Seminary in 1960 and for 50 years served these parishes in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota. On September 1, 1996, Alden retired from full time ministry and moved to his home in Alexandria, but remained an active servant of God in accepting the calls as an Interim Pastor. On October 24, 2010, Alden retired from active ministry at the age of 79. Alden died on September 1, 2012 after a five-month battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Willard, Martin and Carl, sister, Ellen, and also by his beloved wife Susan in 1995. He is survived by his sister Edith and his three children: sons: Aaron and his wife Rosa of St. Anthony, Minnesota; Samuel of Alexandria, Minnesota and by his daughter Miriam and her husband Paul Lender of St. Paul Minnesota. Grandchildren: Elizabeth, Sophia, William, Antonio, Hannah and Rachel; nieces, nephews and hundreds of former parishioners and friends. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, 11:00 a.m. at Shalom Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home. www.andersonfuneral.net