Erna K. Backowies

Erna Kaethe Frieda (Stock) Backowies, 97, of Pender, Nebraska passed away Friday, August 28, 2015 at Legacy Garden Living Center in Pender. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pender; Pastor Miles Ruch will be officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 31, 2015 at Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Pender with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in rural Pender. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Pender. Erna was born March 23, 1918 in Freiburg, Germany to Johannes and Sofie (Lorenz) Stock. She attended and graduated from high school in 1936, in Lahr, Germany. From 1941-1945 Erna was a teacher in the Landjahr, a youth camp for young girls. She worked with her parents in their drug store on Markt Plaz in Lahr. In 1958, Erna worked as a stewardess on a ship to come visit a friend in Nebraska. She then met Robert Backowies, and was engaged after 10 days. On August 7, 1958 they were married in the Burgheimer Kirche in Lahr, Germany. To this union the couple had one daughter. They farmed outside of Pender until Robert's death in 2002. Erna then moved to Pender and resided at the Town Centre apartments, and later Legacy Garden Living Center. Erna was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and the WELCA. She enjoyed traveling, reading, sewing and playing the piano. Erna spent a lot of time outside in her garden and with her cats. She enjoyed being a farm wife raising cattle, sheep, and chickens. At Legacy Garden she spent her time playing bingo, writing letters on her typewriter, and playing solitaire on her laptop. Erna is survived by her daughter, Katie (Scott) Darling of Pender; grandson, Jonathan Darling of Pender; granddaughter, Candice Darling of Pender; niece, Theresa (Wolfgang) Mueller of Flensburg, Germany. Erna is preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Hans and Albert.