Renald "Ren" Fredrick Backus

Renald "Ren" Fredrick Backus
Ren passed away May 15, 2011 at home from a brain tumor. He was born December 24, 1926, in Orem, Utah to Thomas and Nilie Dorthea Sorensen Backus.
Ren served in WWII. He married Paula Charleen Johnson, June 21, 1947 in Salt Lake City, later solemnized in the Logan Temple.
Ren was the youngest of a family of six; 2 girls and 4 boys. His mother died eleven days after his birth. His father's sister (Aunt Lotte) cared for Ren until he was about 20 months old.
The family left the farm in Orem and Ren came back with his siblings and father where they moved to Swede town in northwest section of Salt Lake City. The eldest girl, Grace, at that time was about 13 years old. She and her younger sister Mae had the responsibility of taking care of Ren and a brother that was about 5 years old at the time Ren came back to the family.
Ren attended grade school in Swede Town and Washington Elementary. Any communicable diseases that were going around at school, Ren was sure to bring home. He had just about everything including rheumatic fever. He was an avid marble fan and a softball player. He was quite a fighter too. Many a day, he came home with a black eye and skinned knuckles. His Dad said to him, "I see you've been fighting again." Ren replied, "Well you should have seen the other guy." After grade school Ren attended Horace Mann Jr. High. Due to circumstances and his father getting ill, he quit Jr. High and went to work. He worked at many different jobs as he was growing up and he also helped his Dad in the produce business.
In March 1945, he was inducted into the Army. He took his basic training in Texas. His unit was almost ready to be sent to the Pacific Islands when Ren came down with pneumonia and had to be hospitalized. The unit was sent without him. When he was discharged from the hospital he received orders to Fort Douglas, Utah. When arriving at the fort, the commanding officer said that the army had made a mistake and sent this man back home. He said, "More power to you, Ren"
In the winter of 1946 Ren met his future wife, Charleen Johnson, through a mutual friend. They became engaged in the spring and were married June 21, 1947 in Salt Lake City at a mutual friend's home.
Their first son, Fred, was born April 8, 1948. Nearly three years later, their second son, Rodney, was born. Another three years went by and a third son, Jeffrey arrived on the scene. By this time the apartment was getting crowded so they bought their first home at 918 North 1400 West in Rose Park, Salt Lake City. Another three and a half went by and their fourth son, Kim was born.
Ren worked for Clyde Reaveley driving dump truck through Utah Sand and Gravel for a few years after which he bought his own dump truck and leased it through Clyde. He drove for many years through him. After the trucking business, he worked for the LDS Church as a custodian in a new church in Morton Meadows.
Ren loved to hunt and fish and loved to take the family and go camping. Many trips were made to Strawberry Lake and to Montana to see relatives.
As a boy, Ren was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was never active until 1962 when he started attending Senior Aaronic meeting and worked his way up through the Priesthood. On January 13, 1963 he was ordained an Elder. He was active in the Senior Aaronic program with a very good friend (Millan Gledhill).
He served a Stake Mission for the Rose Park Stake. He served in the Sunday School Presidency and the Elders Quorum Presidency. He attended to his home teaching regularly.
He and his wife and children were sealed in the Logan Temple on March 22, 1963. They lived in the Rose Park area for over 45 years at which time they moved to Saratoga Springs, Utah County.
Ren loved his new home and he spent many hours working in the yard. He and his wife eventually started serving in the Mount Timpanogos Temple where he served in the baptistery for 6 ½ years at which time the brain tumor developed and he had to retire. He loved his work in the temple and the people with whom he associated every week.
He is survived by his wife, Charleen, of nearly 64 years and his four sons: Fred Backus, Rodney (Carrie) Backus, Jeffrey (Kathy) Backus and Kim Backus; 6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers and 2 sisters.
His family is grateful for the service provided by IHC Healthcare Hospice.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 12 Noon at the Saratoga Stake Center located at 587 South Saratoga Road, Saratoga Springs, Utah. A viewing will take place that same day and location 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment is at Redwood Memorial Estates.