Phyllis Backhaus

Phyllis Ann Backhaus (88) went to be with her Lord on September 25, 2024. 

A Memorial Service will be held Monday, September 30, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Mandan, ND with Rev. Joshua Janke officiating. Burial and short committal service will follow at 4:00 p.m. at the Linton Cemetery. The burial is open to the public.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 29, 2024, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., at Bismarck Funeral Home with a prayer service beginning at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue at Redeemer Lutheran Church one hour prior to the service. 

Phyllis Ann Backhaus (88) made the journey to be with her Lord on September 25, 2024. Services will be held Monday, September 30, 2024 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Mandan, ND with Rev. Joshua Janke officiating. Visitation will begin at 5:00 pm, Sunday, September 29, 2024 at Bismarck Funeral Home with a Prayer Service beginning at 6:30 pm. Burial will be in the Linton Cemetery with services starting at 4:00 pm.

Phyllis was born to William and Ann (Flegel) Kundert on February 20, 1936, on the family farm 13 miles outside of Temvik, ND. Phyllis was confirmed in the Lutheran faith as an adult in 1954.

Phyllis graduated from Linton High School and Valley City State Teachers College where she received a two year degree in teaching. She returned to Emmons County and taught school in a one room country schoolhouse.

Phyllis married the love of her life, Otto Backhaus, on August 7, 1955, in Linton, ND. They moved to Cannon Ball ND in 1961, where they farmed, ranched and raised their 4 children.

Phyllis was a kindhearted, wise, Christian woman who faced adversity with tremendous strength, anchored by her faith in God. She had many interests and served her community in various ways in addition to being a busy mom and ranch wife. She served on the Cannon Ball School board, was a member of the Homemakers club and a 4-H leader. She was a member of the ND Dairy Goat Association and contributed to the development of a 4-H Dairy Goat Manual. She worked as a Shaklee Representative, Avon Representative, school bus driver and as Secretary at the Solen Public School.

Phyllis always had a bountiful garden as evidenced by her huge root cellar she proudly filled with a variety of home grown fruits, vegetables, meats, juices, and jellies which fed her family and others every year. She made every type of jelly under the sun, always utilizing the fruits God provided. She was a wonderful cook and loved cooking for branding and other large festivities such as family reunions. She thoroughly enjoyed hosting visitors at the farm and teaching them about rural living and the origins of their food supply. 

Phyllis so enjoyed little children and spent her lifetime teaching in one capacity or another. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were the light of her life. She enjoyed teaching them about our Lord, life, sewing, cooking, gardening, animal husbandry and more. She had a gift of using everyday experiences to teach those around her. Phyllis worked as the Cannon Ball Head Start Coordinator for many years. After her youngest child graduated high school, she returned to college at the University of Mary and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education at the age of 50. Then she worked as a Kindergarten teacher at Standing Rock. Each year when teaching Head Start and Kindergarten she hosted a field trip to her ranch. Many special memories were made for the children and other teachers as they were able to take tractor rides, horse rides, feed bottle calves, goat kids, chickens and much more. After retiring, Phyllis continued to substitute teach at Cannon Ball and Fort Yates schools.

Phyllis and Otto moved back to their Emmons County roots and settled in Linton in 1998 after selling the farm. Phyllis then worked as an Elderly Outreach Worker for Emmons County for a short time.

Phyllis was active in her church, Peace Lutheran, and was a member of the Quilting club. Sewing was always a passion of hers, sewing clothing for her family as they grew. Phyllis made each of her grandchildren a quilt when they graduated high school and another when they married. Each one is a treasured keepsake!

Those left to cherish her memory are 4 children: Lance (Sharon) Backhaus, Leigh Backhaus, Ladd Backhaus, and Lynnette (Arnold) Kraft; and brothers: Melvin, William and Rick Kundert. She was also blessed with a lasting legacy of 13 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren!

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Ann and William Kundert, her husband Otto Backhaus, daughter-in-love Rachelle Backhaus and brother, Curtis Kundert.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Redeemer Lutheran Church memorial fund.

We wish to thank the staff at Missouri Slope Care Center in Bismarck for the professional and benevolent care they provided to mom with the most compassionate hearts and loving kindness.