Elven Backholm

Elven A. Backholm, 95, died at his home in Aberdeen, Friday afternoon December 6, 2013. He was born in Hoquiam, WA July 1, 1918, the son of Eric and Ellen (Helquist) Backholm. He graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1936 and then attended Grays Harbor College and Washington State College in Pullman. In his junior year at WSC he was inducted into the Army in 1942. He trained as a radio operator, but because of imperfect eyesight he was transferred to the medical corps at Walter Reed Hospital. In 1944, after a 12 day “boat ride” crossing the Atlantic his group set up a hospital in England and treated patients flown from France and Germany, while dodging buzz bombs from the German military. After the war in Europe, he returned across the Atlantic with thirty thousand others on board the Queen Mary to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He was destined to go the South Pacific, but the war ended in August 1945 and he was discharged in March 1946. Elven began work when he returned to the Harbor at the State Employment office. In 1951 he joined the Social Security Administration until in 1954 he joined the Elma Plywood Co., where he worked until 1965. He then became the shipping supervisor for Evans Products until he retired in 1982. He had married the former Doris Anne Sharp in Aberdeen on April 27, 1951. He was active in the Aberdeen Elks Lodge No. 593 and was a trumpet player in the famed Aberdeen Elks Concert Band and also the stage band. He sang in a barbershop quartet and was a member of the Grays Harbor Foursquare Church in Central Park. His family said he enjoyed “clamdiggin’, bark pealin’, berry pickin’, fishin’, horseshoe pitchin’, cribbage cheatin’… and that last one lead to his 2011 Aberdeen City Cribbage Championship,” all said in good fun and lots of love. Besides that he was best man at six weddings! Elven is survived by his wife of 62 years, Doris, at the family home in Aberdeen; four sons: Devin and wife Jane, Aberdeen, Derek and wife Sayoko, Everett, WA, Dean of Kirkland and Douglas and wife Theresa, Tumwater; a brother: Edwin A. and wife Fern, Ocean Shores; and also 14 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. And there are numerous nieces and nephews. He will be missed by all. A celebration of Elven’s life will be held at Noon Saturday, December 14th, at the Grays Harbor Foursquare Church, Central Park. Longtime friend, Reverend Brad Gill, pastor of the Light and Life Community Church, Hoquiam, will officiate. Private inurnment will take place in Sunset Memorial Park, Hoquiam. The family suggests memorials may be made to the Union Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 859, Aberdeen, WA 98520 or Coastal Harvest, P.O. Box 616, Hoquiam, WA 98550. A card of condolence with a message or a memory may be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com Arrangements are entrusted to Fern Hill Funeral Home, Aberdeen.