Melvin Lou Dale Backes
April 13, 1926 - December 19, 2019
Funeral mass for Melvin Lou Dale Backes, 93, of Platte, SD, was held at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church of Platte, SD, with Father Grant Lacey officiating.
Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, with a wake service and rosary at 7 p.m.
A committal service with military honors followed the funeral mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery of
Platte, SD.
Melvin Lou Dale Backes died peacefully Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, at home in Platte, SD.
Melvin Lou Dale Backes was born April 13, 1926, on the family farm north of Platte, SD, to Nick and Dorothy (LaBaugh) Backes.
He attended country school and went on to serve his country in the United States Army from April of 1945 through December of 1946 during World War II, stationed in the Philippines.
He then began a lifelong career in farming and ranching, raising Hereford cattle.
Dale was united in marriage to Carol Ries on April 15, 1953, at St. Willibrord Catholic Church in Robey, SD.
He was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Platte, SD, served on the Torrey Lake Township Board and was an active member of Dittrick-Barrows-Noldner American Legion Post #26 in Stickney, SD, Mitchell Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2750 of Mitchell, SD, and Mitchell Moose Lodge #875 of Mitchell, SD.
Dancing with Carol was a favorite activity, especially square dancing.
Dale was always ready for a game of double deck pinochle and enjoyed playing Solitaire.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 66 years, Carol Backes of Platte, SD; three children, Steve Backes and wife, Deb of Platte, SD, Kathy Hoffman and husband, Mike of Mitchell, SD, and Dave Backes and
wife, Sherri of Platte, SD; a son-in-law, Steven Panchyshyn of Farmington, MN; 15 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Elaine Backes of Rapid City, SD; three brothers-in-law, Eugene Ries of Mitchell,
SD, Kenneth Ries of Corsica, SD, and Gerald Ries of Hudson, WI, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Nancy Panchyshyn; his parents, Nick and Dorothy Backes; a sister, Florene McLaughlin and husband, Eugene; two brothers, Eugene Backes and wife, Viola and Floyd Backes and four sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Ries, Mary Jane Ries, Elaine Ries and Darlene Peta and husband, Bill.
Mount Funeral Home of Platte, SD, was in charge of arrangements.
Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family through mountfuneralhome.com.