Iris Claire Backlund

Iris C. Backlund, age 91, of Kandiyohi, passed away Wednesday morning, August 10, at Bethesda Grand Nursing Home in Willmar.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 17, at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Kandiyohi.  Interment will be in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Arrangements are entrusted to the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com  

Iris Claire (Nelson) Backlund, was born on December 30, 1930, in Willmar, Minnesota, the daughter of Nickoli and Laura (Arithson) Nelson.  She grew up in Willmar and graduated from Willmar High School in 1948.  Later in 1948, Iris was married to Allan LeRoy Backlund and they made their home on a farm near Kandiyohi.  Together they raised four children and Iris worked along side Allan on the farm.  She was an active member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church.  Her hobbies included doing crossword puzzles, watching Jeopardy and reading. She also enjoyed filming harness races where her son, John and daughter, Jan raced trotters and pacers.

She is survived by three children, Janice Backlund of Kandiyohi, Laurie (and John) Lynch of Orange Park, FL., and Joel Backlund (and special friend, David Gallegos) of Albuquerque, NM.; three grandchildren, Justin (and Sue) Backlund, Elizabeth (and Mike) Kings and David Berhanu; and eight great grandchildren, Jackson, Zemira, Makena and Elijah Backlund, Claire and Chloe Kings and Sona and Macko Berhanu.  Also surviving is a daughter-in-law, Mary Backlund of Brainerd, sister-in-law, Emily Cole of Decorah, IA.; brother-in-law, Dick Tornquist of Willmar and lifelong friend, Gladys Carlson of Willmar, besides other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Allan in 2013; her son, John in 2015; an infant grandson, David in 1985; sister, Kathryn Tornquist; brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Martha Nelson; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Anna Mae and Howard Peterson; and brother-in-law, Austin Cole.