Betty Ellen Backstrom passed away Nov. 5, 2024, at Capital Medical Center after a brief illness.

She was the oldest of three daughters, born Dec. 11, 1926, to Buford and Rose Pugh in Aberdeen, Washington. She attended grade school at Cosmopolis, high school at Aberdeen Weatherwax High School and then to Grays Harbor Business College.

She was a secretary for the Veterans Administration until it closed and then she transferred to their main office in Seattle.

On July 21, 1951, she married Robert Backstrom at the United Methodist Church in Aberdeen, Washington. The following year they built their home in Montesano where they lived until 2018. She worked for Paul Fournier who was the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney until their first son was born and then became a stay-at-home mom.

She enjoyed going to all her children’s activities, was a Cub Scout mom, had a Brownie troop, and taught Sunday School. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, P.E.O. Chapter U, Orthopedic Club, Young Mothers Club and she played bridge with the same friends since 1956.

Betty and Bob enjoyed many years of trips to Hawaii. They’ve been to Europe and cruises to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Alaska, as well as road trips, especially to Reno and Cannon Beach. Lake Nahwatzel was their happy place.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband in 2018 and her son David in 2023.

She is survived by children, Lori Gabler (Craig), Mark (Sue), and daughter-in-law Laurel Backstrom, eight grandchildren: Erik (Christie), Leif (Daryle), and Heidi (Dave Crawford), Andrea (Patrick Ames) and Geoff Gabler (Karen), Steve (Laura), Sara (Josh Dressler) and Scott Backstrom (Taylor), as well as 15 great-grandchildren — soon to be 16. She is also survived by two sisters, Ellie Wilson of Chico, California and Barbara Bogdanovich of Aberdeen, along with nieces and nephews.

At her request there will just be a family graveside service.

Memorials can be made to the Montesano Fire Department or Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center