Person Page 1,223

James Bennet Backlund was born on 18 July 1922 in Winchester, Lewis, Idaho.^1,2 He died on 21 February 2011, at age 88, in Colts Neck, Monmouth, New Jersey.² He was buried in Glenwood Cemetery, West Long Branch, Monmouth, New Jersey.²

James Bennet Backlund, 88, of Colts Neck, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 at home. He was born July 18, 1922 in Winchester Idaho on a wheat and cattle ranch to Jonathan Benjamin and Orpha Fox Backlund, the sixth of seven children, having five older sisters and one younger brother. He attended grammar school in Winchester, and then attended Benson Polytechnical High School for Boys in Portland Oregon. After high school, he attended the University of Oregon for one year, then he worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad in the engineering department. After that, he attended Oregon State University and then transferred to the University of Colorado under the Naval Officer Training Program, V12 Unit, graduating with a BS Mechanical Engineering degree on October 21, 1944.

Mr. Backlund joined the Navy as a reserve officer in the 11th Reserve Battalion. Prior to that, he attended the US Naval Academy for four months as a Reserve Officer, completing his training there on April 25, 1945. He went on to serve three years of active duty as a Chief Engineer with the rank of Ensign. He began his active duty on April 25. 1945 aboard the Destroyer Escort 393 USS Haverfield in the Pacific. After his active duty, he went on to serve for twenty years in the Naval Reserve. He was honorably discharged from the Navy Reserve in 1965.

After World War II, he was employed by Pioneer Mill, Lahaina, Maui as a Methods Engineer, starting August 15, 1946. Mr. Backlund married Mary Elizabeth Tompkins of Interlaken on July 24, 1948. Together they had four children, Lorene Mary, Jonathan Cole, Janise Lisle, and Leslie Joann. The family resided in Eatontown from 1948 to 1960, where he served on the Board of Education. He moved to Colts Neck in 1961 and has lived there since.

Mr. Backlund was employed by Hercules Inc., Parlin, NJ for 42 years as Chief Power Engineer, retiring in 1993. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Asbury Park and a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4374, Freehold. Jim enjoyed his family, travel, gardening, woodworking, restoring antiques and the arts.

He was predeceased by his wife, Mary on October 27, 1985 and by his daughter, Janise on March 10, 2004. Surviving are his three children, Lorene Sagotsky of New York, NY, Jonathan Backlund of Menlo Park, CA, Leslie Backlund of Colts Neck; his brother, John A. Backlund of Bend, OR, and his grandsons, Jonathan Backlund, Peter Backlund, Eric Berg, and Matthew Sagotsky.

Relatives and friends may call on Tuesday from 10:00 AM with services beginning at 11:00 AM at the Ocean Grove Memorial Home, 118 Main Avenue, Ocean Grove. Interment will be at Glenwood Cemetery, West Long Branch.

Clara Elma Fox was born on 11 April 1911 in Winchester, Lewis, Idaho.¹ She and Floyd L. Myers were married on 16 April 1939. She died on 22 December 2008, at age 97, in Tacoma County, Washington. She was buried in Mountain View Memorial Park, Lakewood, Pierce, Washington.

Frances (?) was born about 1888 in Kansas.¹ She and George Strawn were married about 1909.¹

Minnie Ray was born on 15 January 1883 in Missouri.^1,3 She died on 14 November 1966, at age 83, in Los Angeles County, California.³

Minnie Bates Strawn stated she was a widow in the 1930 California Census.

Selma H. Eger was born on 25 December 1893 in New Jersey.^1,2,3 She and Leonard Daniel Strawn were married about 1925.¹ She died on 1 February 1987, at age 93, in Los Angeles County, California.^2,3 She was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Inspiration Slope, Lot 409, Space 4), Glendale, Los Angeles, California.³