Obituary of Bobbie Jean Backstrand

Bobbie Jean Backstrand died on September 4th, 2019 in The Dalles Oregon. She died peacefully at home in the presence of her loved ones. Bobbie, aka Bobbi, was born in a farmhouse in Covington County, Mississippi on September 29, 1933. In those depression years her parents scratched out a living growing cotton and whatever else they could. Bobbi told the story of working in the fields, “chopping cotton” for hours on end. As a young girl she would be excused from work to go home and cook a midday meal (dinner) for her parents and brother. It was this training that no doubt made her into such a wonderful cook capable of cooking the best, world class, fried chicken dinners with all the “fixins.” As a young teenager her family moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She graduated from Hattiesburg High School and worked in the Central Supply department of the local general hospital. In 1952, Bobbi met John Backstrand, who was stationed with the US Air Force at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, He was struck by her beauty and pleasant disposition. Their attraction for each other was such that they spent nearly every weekend having fun together, going to church and movies, and joining her youth group of friends. Bobbie had a wonderful car (1941 Ford) that John just loved. They saw Gone with the Wind for the first time in that car at the local drive in theater. This began John’s use of the nickname for Bobbi, - Scarlett. They were married in 1953 at her grandmother’s home. They were sweethearts for 66 years. Bobbi and John traveled extensively while John was in the Air Force. As the years went by, Bobbie and John had three children; Shirley, Karen and Karl . It was during the years stationed in England that Bobbi "got hooked” on her lifelong penchant for collecting old Victorian stuff. After retirement from the Air Force, Bobbi and John settled for a time near San Antonio, TX by the small town of Pipe Creek. In 1976, they decided to move to John’s home (Oregon) and eventually Bobbi and John moved to the Columbia River Gorge area. When they saw an old Victorian home for sale in The Dalles they decided to make Wasco County their permanent home. The old Queen Anne home gave Bobbi a chance to display all of the memorabilia that she had collected over the years. Here, with lots of rose bushes to tend, Bobbi was very happy. Bobbi is survived by her husband John, children Shirley, Karen and Karl, her daughter-in-law Susy, 4 grand children and two great-grand children. Those who knew Bobbi describe her as a gracious southern lady: polite and kind to everyone. The world would be a much better place if there were more people like her. She will be greatly missed. The family requests that donations be made to The Shriner’s Hospital for Children in lieu of flowers. Bobbi is at rest at Willamette National Cemetery.