Orpha Marion Henjum was the oldest child of Oscar Norman Henjum and Lillian Mae Husted. She was born in Britton, SD. Her father, Oscar, was in the U.S. Army during WWI and was in France when Orpha was born.
As a child, Orpha grew up in Sherman, SD.
She married William George Backhaus on June 21, year unknown. The couple's first child was a son, David.
After her husband came home from WWII, they purchased the bakery in Garretson, SD. They opened for business on October 1, 1945.
In 1946 their second son, Terry, was born in the DeVall Hospital in Garretson. Their third child, Robert, was born in the same hospital in 1949.
While living in Garretson, both Bill and Orpha were active in the community. Orpha worked for the PTA and belonged to the Dorcas Circle of the Zion Lutheran Church.
In 1951, Orpha and her family sold the bakery and moved to Sioux Falls, SD. Five years later they moved again...this time to Southern California, settling in Alhambra, in Los Angeles County.
Orpha worked many years as secretary for Grace Lutheran Church in Alhambra, CA. Both Orpha and her husband were tireless volunteers for the church. They cooked for the annual Mother and Daughter Banquet and numerous other events. Orpha was known for her beautiful and unique favors and table arrangements for these occasions. Her husband Bill was the "chief cook and bottle washer." And, because he was a baker, these church events always had something special from the oven for everyone.
Orpha also worked with the Cub Scouts when her boys were members. She was a musician and played the guitar, organ and autoharp.
Their son David married Susan West and had two children, Jennifer and Joshua, both born in Arcadia, CA.
Terry married but never had any children of his own.
Robert married Cecilia Obenland. They had two children, Annalisa and Keith. Annalisa was born in San Gabriel, CA and Keith was born in Hollywood, CA.
Orpha and Bill have great grandchildren. A son was born to Annalisa and Mark Brown in 1996. This young man is Mark David Brown, Jr., born in Apple Valley, CA. Joshua has a son, named Ben, whose birthdate is unknown at this time.
Orpha passed away in her sleep at her home at 909 N. Electric in Alhambra on February 21, 1989, her husband lying unaware by her side. Her funeral was held on Feburary 24, 1989. She is buried with her husband in the Norway Cemetery in Garretson, SD, near her parents Oscar and Lillian Henjum and her grandparents, Nels and Jonetta Henjum.
Orpha was an absolutely wonderful mother, mother-in-law and Nana! She was a lot of fun and had a great sense of humor. Always willing to babysit her grandchildren, Orpha was, and still is, very special to them.
Update Nov. 2019: Bill and Orpha's grandson, Josh Backhaus now has a son, Ben. Great-grandson, Mark Brown and his wife, Jasmin (Hogue), had a daughter, LilyAnn Rose Brown in Oct 2018. Bill and Orpha's grandson, Keith Backhaus and his girlfriend, Casey Sanderson, now have a daughter, Molly Mae Backhaus, born in Sept. 2019.
As a child, Orpha grew up in Sherman, SD.
She married William George Backhaus on June 21, year unknown. The couple's first child was a son, David.
After her husband came home from WWII, they purchased the bakery in Garretson, SD. They opened for business on October 1, 1945.
In 1946 their second son, Terry, was born in the DeVall Hospital in Garretson. Their third child, Robert, was born in the same hospital in 1949.
While living in Garretson, both Bill and Orpha were active in the community. Orpha worked for the PTA and belonged to the Dorcas Circle of the Zion Lutheran Church.
In 1951, Orpha and her family sold the bakery and moved to Sioux Falls, SD. Five years later they moved again...this time to Southern California, settling in Alhambra, in Los Angeles County.
Orpha worked many years as secretary for Grace Lutheran Church in Alhambra, CA. Both Orpha and her husband were tireless volunteers for the church. They cooked for the annual Mother and Daughter Banquet and numerous other events. Orpha was known for her beautiful and unique favors and table arrangements for these occasions. Her husband Bill was the "chief cook and bottle washer." And, because he was a baker, these church events always had something special from the oven for everyone.
Orpha also worked with the Cub Scouts when her boys were members. She was a musician and played the guitar, organ and autoharp.
Their son David married Susan West and had two children, Jennifer and Joshua, both born in Arcadia, CA.
Terry married but never had any children of his own.
Robert married Cecilia Obenland. They had two children, Annalisa and Keith. Annalisa was born in San Gabriel, CA and Keith was born in Hollywood, CA.
Orpha and Bill have great grandchildren. A son was born to Annalisa and Mark Brown in 1996. This young man is Mark David Brown, Jr., born in Apple Valley, CA. Joshua has a son, named Ben, whose birthdate is unknown at this time.
Orpha passed away in her sleep at her home at 909 N. Electric in Alhambra on February 21, 1989, her husband lying unaware by her side. Her funeral was held on Feburary 24, 1989. She is buried with her husband in the Norway Cemetery in Garretson, SD, near her parents Oscar and Lillian Henjum and her grandparents, Nels and Jonetta Henjum.
Orpha was an absolutely wonderful mother, mother-in-law and Nana! She was a lot of fun and had a great sense of humor. Always willing to babysit her grandchildren, Orpha was, and still is, very special to them.
Update Nov. 2019: Bill and Orpha's grandson, Josh Backhaus now has a son, Ben. Great-grandson, Mark Brown and his wife, Jasmin (Hogue), had a daughter, LilyAnn Rose Brown in Oct 2018. Bill and Orpha's grandson, Keith Backhaus and his girlfriend, Casey Sanderson, now have a daughter, Molly Mae Backhaus, born in Sept. 2019.
Orpha Marion Henjum was the oldest child of Oscar Norman Henjum and Lillian Mae Husted. She was born in Britton, SD. Her father, Oscar, was in the U.S. Army during WWI and was in France when Orpha was born.
As a child, Orpha grew up in Sherman, SD.
She married William George Backhaus on June 21, year unknown. The couple's first child was a son, David.
After her husband came home from WWII, they purchased the bakery in Garretson, SD. They opened for business on October 1, 1945.
In 1946 their second son, Terry, was born in the DeVall Hospital in Garretson. Their third child, Robert, was born in the same hospital in 1949.
While living in Garretson, both Bill and Orpha were active in the community. Orpha worked for the PTA and belonged to the Dorcas Circle of the Zion Lutheran Church.
In 1951, Orpha and her family sold the bakery and moved to Sioux Falls, SD. Five years later they moved again...this time to Southern California, settling in Alhambra, in Los Angeles County.
Orpha worked many years as secretary for Grace Lutheran Church in Alhambra, CA. Both Orpha and her husband were tireless volunteers for the church. They cooked for the annual Mother and Daughter Banquet and numerous other events. Orpha was known for her beautiful and unique favors and table arrangements for these occasions. Her husband Bill was the "chief cook and bottle washer." And, because he was a baker, these church events always had something special from the oven for everyone.
Orpha also worked with the Cub Scouts when her boys were members. She was a musician and played the guitar, organ and autoharp.
Their son David married Susan West and had two children, Jennifer and Joshua, both born in Arcadia, CA.
Terry married but never had any children of his own.
Robert married Cecilia Obenland. They had two children, Annalisa and Keith. Annalisa was born in San Gabriel, CA and Keith was born in Hollywood, CA.
Orpha and Bill have great grandchildren. A son was born to Annalisa and Mark Brown in 1996. This young man is Mark David Brown, Jr., born in Apple Valley, CA. Joshua has a son, named Ben, whose birthdate is unknown at this time.
Orpha passed away in her sleep at her home at 909 N. Electric in Alhambra on February 21, 1989, her husband lying unaware by her side. Her funeral was held on Feburary 24, 1989. She is buried with her husband in the Norway Cemetery in Garretson, SD, near her parents Oscar and Lillian Henjum and her grandparents, Nels and Jonetta Henjum.
Orpha was an absolutely wonderful mother, mother-in-law and Nana! She was a lot of fun and had a great sense of humor. Always willing to babysit her grandchildren, Orpha was, and still is, very special to them.
Update Nov. 2019: Bill and Orpha's grandson, Josh Backhaus now has a son, Ben. Great-grandson, Mark Brown and his wife, Jasmin (Hogue), had a daughter, LilyAnn Rose Brown in Oct 2018. Bill and Orpha's grandson, Keith Backhaus and his girlfriend, Casey Sanderson, now have a daughter, Molly Mae Backhaus, born in Sept. 2019.
As a child, Orpha grew up in Sherman, SD.
She married William George Backhaus on June 21, year unknown. The couple's first child was a son, David.
After her husband came home from WWII, they purchased the bakery in Garretson, SD. They opened for business on October 1, 1945.
In 1946 their second son, Terry, was born in the DeVall Hospital in Garretson. Their third child, Robert, was born in the same hospital in 1949.
While living in Garretson, both Bill and Orpha were active in the community. Orpha worked for the PTA and belonged to the Dorcas Circle of the Zion Lutheran Church.
In 1951, Orpha and her family sold the bakery and moved to Sioux Falls, SD. Five years later they moved again...this time to Southern California, settling in Alhambra, in Los Angeles County.
Orpha worked many years as secretary for Grace Lutheran Church in Alhambra, CA. Both Orpha and her husband were tireless volunteers for the church. They cooked for the annual Mother and Daughter Banquet and numerous other events. Orpha was known for her beautiful and unique favors and table arrangements for these occasions. Her husband Bill was the "chief cook and bottle washer." And, because he was a baker, these church events always had something special from the oven for everyone.
Orpha also worked with the Cub Scouts when her boys were members. She was a musician and played the guitar, organ and autoharp.
Their son David married Susan West and had two children, Jennifer and Joshua, both born in Arcadia, CA.
Terry married but never had any children of his own.
Robert married Cecilia Obenland. They had two children, Annalisa and Keith. Annalisa was born in San Gabriel, CA and Keith was born in Hollywood, CA.
Orpha and Bill have great grandchildren. A son was born to Annalisa and Mark Brown in 1996. This young man is Mark David Brown, Jr., born in Apple Valley, CA. Joshua has a son, named Ben, whose birthdate is unknown at this time.
Orpha passed away in her sleep at her home at 909 N. Electric in Alhambra on February 21, 1989, her husband lying unaware by her side. Her funeral was held on Feburary 24, 1989. She is buried with her husband in the Norway Cemetery in Garretson, SD, near her parents Oscar and Lillian Henjum and her grandparents, Nels and Jonetta Henjum.
Orpha was an absolutely wonderful mother, mother-in-law and Nana! She was a lot of fun and had a great sense of humor. Always willing to babysit her grandchildren, Orpha was, and still is, very special to them.
Update Nov. 2019: Bill and Orpha's grandson, Josh Backhaus now has a son, Ben. Great-grandson, Mark Brown and his wife, Jasmin (Hogue), had a daughter, LilyAnn Rose Brown in Oct 2018. Bill and Orpha's grandson, Keith Backhaus and his girlfriend, Casey Sanderson, now have a daughter, Molly Mae Backhaus, born in Sept. 2019.
