Charles Backes

Father Charles H. Backes, 83, Emmaus Place, Bismarck, died Jan. 21, 1999, at the residence. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Spirit of Life Catholic Church, Mandan, with Bishop Paul A. Zipfel presiding. Spring burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Bismarck.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan. Visitation will continue from 3-9 p.m. Sunday at Spirit of Life Catholic Church, Mandan, where a vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church from 9 a.m. to service time Monday.

Father Backes was born Sept. 1, 1915, in Loose Creek, Mo., the son of Anton and Agnes (Haslag) Backes. Father Backes was raised and educated in Loose Creek. He completed seventh grade in Loose Creek but his education was put on hold because he was needed to work on the family farm until age 21.

He then started his business as a cream testing and delivery man for Suger Creek Creamery of St. Louis, Mo. In addition to this he took the position of a school bus driver for the Loose Creek Public School System.

Father Backes continued his education by going to summer school to receive his eighth-grade diploma. In attending high school he found himself as a classmate of the students on his bus route. After his third year in high school he took a Latin class during the summer.

At this point he knew he wanted to join the priesthood. So in September of 1940 he entered the St. Meinard Seminary in Indiana. After two years at St. Meinards, he transferred to St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota, where he completed two years of philosophy and four years of theology. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1948.

Father Backes' first assignment in the Diocese of Bismarck was as assistant pastor at the Church of St. Joseph, Mandan, from 1948-51. He then became assistant pastor at the Church of St. Vincent, Mott, from 1951-53, at which time he was named assistant pastor for the Church of St. Joseph, Dickinson, and served there for one year.

In 1954, he was appointed chaplain for St. Joseph Hospital, Minot, where he served until 1957. Father Backes was appointed pastor to the Church of St. Pius, New Salem, and its mission, the Church of St. Mary Queen of Peace, Almont, from 1957-67. He was then appointed pastor of the Church of St. Joseph, Mandan, from 1967-90, at which time he retired.

After one year of retirement, Father Backes was asked to serve as parochial administrator for the Church of St. Pius, New Salem, and its mission, the Church of St. Mary Queen of Peace, Almont, for one year from 1991-92, at which time he retired from active priestly ministry. During his retirement years, Father Backes resided at Emmaus Place.

In addition to Father Backes' priestly assignments, he served as the first Family Life Director for the Diocese from 1959-69. He taught at Mary College and Priory High School, Bismarck. He served as diocesan director of Cursillo from 1968-90. Father Backes also organized Aid Inc., an organization which provides aid to the poor. In 1979, he assisted with the building plans of the Church of Spirit of Life, Mandan. Father Backes was well-loved by those he served.

He is survived by three brothers and sisters-in-law, Father Hugo Backes, Bismarck, Adolph and Laura Backes, Loose Creek, Ray Backes, Altadena, Calif., and Josephine and Anna Backes, both of Loose Creek; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Sister Mary Antonice Backes, SSND, St. Louis, Mo., Louise and Howard Volk, Joplin, Mo., and Ann and Herb Williams, Loose Creek; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Herman, Martin and Lawrence; and one sister-in-law, Elizabeth Backes.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Aid Inc.