“Jean” Violet Jeanice Backlin
March 16, 2021
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Violet Jeanice “Jean” Backlin of Moosomin, beloved wife of the late Garry Backlin and of the late Ronald Towler, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 16th, 2021 in her 89th year.
Friends are invited to a Celebration of Jean’s life at the Moosomin Legion Hall, Moosomin, Saskatchewan, on Wednesday, July 28th, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. with Sheilagh Garrett officiating. A family interment will take place prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Moosomin & District Healthcare Foundation for the Southeast Integrated Care Centre, or to the Royal Canadian Legion – Moosomin Branch #81, in memory of Jean.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Violet Jeanice (Jean) Backlin. On March 16, 2021.
Violet Jeanice (Crosson Towler) Backlin was born on April 17, 1932 to Olive (Kilpatrick) and John Crosson on Bill Elmes farm. She was the 7th of 8 children and her childhood was spent with her family on the farm in the Hillsgreen District. She went to Hillsgreen School up until grade 8 and that was the end of her schooling.
Mom married Ron Towler, our dad on July 5, 1949 in Manson, Manitoba. They lived on a farm between Manson and Willen. David, Rick, and Darlene were born while they were living on the farm. Later, they moved to Virden. Linda and Garry were born there. They then moved to Moosomin to stay with relatives. Mom then moved to Moosomin and when Dad passed away in 1965, she was 33 years old. She was left with 5 kids and a grade 8 education. Later she upgraded that to grade 10. In 1966, she moved from a rental and bought the house on McNaughton Street where she lived for almost 50 years.
Mom wore a few hats during her working years. First, she worked nights at the post office sorting mail. She then worked for Social Services, supervising women who were also on Social Assistance doing house cleaning jobs. She also worked the front desk at the hotel from 4-12 in the evenings and took various boarders to help make ends meet. Later she worked at the drugstore as a clerk. Dale was born during this time.
Mom met Gary Backlin and they got married in June of 1975. They bought the ambulance business in the summer of 1977 and Sunset Memorial Gardens upkeep came with the business. Mom got her EMA and later EMT and was the first female EMT in Saskatchewan. She went on to teach CPR as well. She loved her profession, stuck with it for almost 30 years and was awarded the Governor General’s Medal for her service in the healthcare industry. During this time, she also suprervised the upkeep and burials out at Sunset and did a lot of the planting of trees and flowers.
In the fall of 1980, Gary Backlin got sick with cancer. He passed away in February of 1981. Mom took over the ambulance business and persevered with living the life she had. In 2000, her son, Garry bought the ambulance business from her and Mom rode in the back for a few more years. Eventually she retired from that but still did the flower planting out at the cemetery.
Mom gave up her house and moved to Knotty Pine Manor in 2009. She lived there until her passing on March 16, 2021.
Mom’s life also revolved around her family. She will be lovingly remembered by: David (Linda) and Greg (Jackie), Andrew, Matthew and Jordie; Rhonda, Jayden, Joshua, Breanna and Emma (Deceased); Janelle (Drew Wagner), Madison; Rick (Louise), Jessica (Jack Gerger), Michelle (Roger Reetz), Sophia, James, Sabrina and Luke, John (Auralee), Thomas, Bryan and Brandon; Darlene (Fred-Deceased), Scott (Shawna), Fynnleigh, Rorry and Macclan, Stephen (Kim), Hailey, Jayda and Kempton, Curtis (Chelsea), Poppy and Crosson; Linda (Ab Seidler), Quinn and Liam; Garry (Cindy), Christopher (Amanda) Sonja, Abby, and Cassius, Tommy (Kenzie), Sidney and Lexi; Dale (Christina), Ethan and Reece. her brother Jim Crosson, sister-in-law Phyllis Crosson, sister-in-law & brother-in-law Merv & Ruth Moffatt, sister-in-law Ilene (Maycock) Towler and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her first husband Ronald Towler(1965) and her second husband Garry Backlin (1981), her brothers and sisters and in-laws – Hattie(Grant) Johnson, Don(Janie)Crosson, Fred(Bev)Crosson, Merle(Howard)Frape, Velma(Les)Sheane, Ken Crosson and Joyce Crosson, her great granddaughter Emma Belhumeur and son in law Fred Hill.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Jean Violet Jeanice Backlin March 16 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Virden, Province: Manitoba