Ethel Irene (Whalen) Backhaus (1910 - 1994)

Born 25 Jul 1910 in Lodgepole, Perkins, South Dakota, United States

Ancestors

Died 26 Jun 1994 at age 83 in Linton, Emmons, North Dakota, United States

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Biography

• Ethel was born on July 25th 1910 in Lodge Pole, Perkins, South Dakota to Thomas Jacob Whalen and Grace Christina Pool Whalen. She was the second of three children born to this marriage, all girls, Mary Jane "Jennie" (1908), Ethel (1910) and Marie (1914) [1] [2] [3].
• Ethel's mother, Grace died on April 28th 1914 in Dale, Bowman, North Dakota and was laid to rest in the Westfield Cemetery, Westfield, North Dakota [4].
• It is believed that Thomas and Grace had a third child, a girl, Marie, a sister to Jennie and Ethyl. Grace's headstone says Grace Whalen (1889-1914) mother and Marie Whalen (1914-1914) daughter [5] Find A Grave: Memorial #106538268. No source has been located to show the deaths of Grace and Marie are related.
• In the 1915 North Dakota, State Census [6] [7] the widow, Mary (53), widower Thomas (27) back with his mother and siblings, Charley (20), William (18), Edward (15), Catherine (12), Grace (10), and his daughters Mary (6) and Ethel (4) living in Union, Emmons, North Dakota.
• In the 1920 United States Federal Census [8] we find Ethel (9) and Jennie (11) living with the family of their grandfather John Pool (62) consisting of John Pool (62), his children John (33) Klaas (28), William (25), Anna (22), Dick (20), Eliza (17) and his grandchildren John Pool (1), Jennie Whalen (11) and Ethel Whalen (9). They live in District 111, Union, Emmons, North Dakota. Grandpa John is a farmer on his home farm and sons John, Klaas and William are farm laborers on their home farm.
• Ethel made the news on September 30th 1920 when it was reported that her tonsils and adenoids were removed in the Wolverton Hospital, Wolverton, North Dakota on September 25th 1920 [9] [10].
• Ethel's father, Widower Thomas, married his second wife, Freida Edith Voss in about 1922 - a source has not been found. The date is estimated based on: (1) Thomas was single on Census Day, 7 Jan 1920 (2) Thomas and Frieda had a child in about 1923. Thomas and Frieda had 2 children together, a boy and a girl, Dorothy (1923) and Baby Boy Whalen (1925-1925).
• In the 1925 North Dakota, State Census [11] [12] we find Ethel (15) living in the 5th Assessor's District, Township 131, Emmons County, North Dakota. It is not clear if she has a relationship to anyone else on the census page, but is shown as part of family 6, the Langelius family - perhaps a maid? Her sister is living with their grandfather but Ethel is not shown in that household.
• Ethel's half brother, Baby Boy Whalen, was born and died on May 7th 1925 in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota Find A Grave: Memorial #234459804.
• A record of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America shows Ethel being confirmed in Peace Church on March 26th 1926 in Herreid, South Dakota [13].
• Ethel married William Herman Backhaus on May 26th 1926 in Emmons County, North Dakota [14]. Together Ethel and William had 3 children, 2 boys and a girl, Norman (1930), Ronald (1931) and Joann (1942).
• A record of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America shows Ethel being confirmed in Peace Church on March 26th 1926 in Herreid, South Dakota [15].
• In the 1930 United States Federal Census [16] [17] [18] [19] we find William (30), Ethel (20) and Norman (3 months) living on their own farm in Township 129, Emmons, North Dakota, where William is a self employed farmer.
• In the 1940 United States Federal Census [20] [21] [22] William, Ethel, Ronald and Norman were asked where they lived on April 1st 1935. All 4 answered "Rural, Emmons, North Dakota."
• In the 1940 United States Federal Census [23] [24] [25] we find William (40), Ethel (29), Norman (10) and Ronald (8) living on a rented farm in Township 129 Range 78, Emmons, North Dakota where William is a farmer.
• Ethel's father, Thomas, died on January 24th 1946 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon where he was laid to rest in the Rose CIty Cemetery [26].
• In the 1950 United States Federal Census [27] [28] we find William (50), Ethel (39), Ronald (18), and Joann (7) living on Mason Road in a farm in Township 129, Range 78, in Emmons County, North Dakota where William is a self employed farmer.
• Ethel's husband, William, died on July 3rd 1958 in Bismarck, Burleigh, North Dakota and he was laid to rest on July 7th 1958 in Dale Cemetery, Dale, Emmons, North Dakota Find A Grave: Memorial #37942331 where Ethel would join him in 1994.
• An article appearing in the "Aberdeen American News, Aberdeen, South Dakota on July 5th 1962 [29] reported that Ethel would be attending the "School Lunch Cooks Short Course."
• An article in the "Aberdeen American News, Aberdeen, South Dakota on August 24th 1964 announced that Ethel was one of the new hot lunch cooks in the Pollock Public School [30].
• Articles in "Aberdeen American News" showed Ethel being hospitalized twice in July of 1971 [31] [32].
• Ethel's step-mother, Frieda, died on November 14th 1973 in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota [33].
• Ethel's half-sister, Dorothy died of a heart ailment on February 28th 1980 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon and was reported in the Oregonian (published as the Sunday Oregonian), Portland, Oregon, March 2nd 1980, page 63 (no link).
• An article in "Aberdeen American News" shows Ethel having been hospitalized in May 1985 [34].
• An article in "Aberdeen American News" shows Ethel having been hospitalized in April 1986 [35] [36].
• Ethel and William's son, Norman, passed away on February 15t 1989 in Mobridge, Walworth, South Dakota [37].
• Ethel passed away in Linton Hospital on June 26th 1994 in Linton, Emmons, North Dakota [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49].
• According to her death certificate, Ethel was buried in Dale Cemetery, Dale, Emmons, North Dakota with her husband, William [50] [51] [52] [53].
• Ethel's sister, Mary Jane "Jennie," died a couple of months after Ethel on August 19rd 1994 in Linton Hospital, Linton, Emmons, North Dakota [54].

Sources

• CENSUS RECORDS
• 1915 North Dakota, State Census in Ancestry.com:[55]
• 1915 North Dakota, State Census in familysearch.org, Web:[56]
• 1920 United States Federal Census in Ancestry.com:[57]
• 1925 North Dakota, State Census in Ancestry.com:[58]
• 1925 North Dakota, State Census in familysearch.org:[59]
• 1930 United States Federal Census in Ancestry.com:[60]
• 1930 United States Federal Census in familysearch.org:[61]
• 1930 United States Federal Census in genealogybank.com:[62]
• 1930 United States Federal Census in fold3.com:[63]
• 1940 United States Federal Census in Ancestry.com:[64]
• 1940 United States Federal Census in familysearch.org:[65]
• 1940 United States Federal Census in genealogybank.com:[66]
• 1950 United States Federal Census in Ancestry.com:[67]
• 1950 United States Federal Census in familysearch.org:[68]

• BIRTH/BAPTISM/CHRISTENING/CONFIRMATION RECORDS
• South Dakota Births, 1856-1903 for Ethel in Ancestry.com, Web:[69]
• South Dakota, Birth Index, 1856-1915 for Ethel in Ancestry.com, Web:[70]
• South Dakota, Department of Health, Index to Births 1843-1914 and Marriages 1950-2016 for Ethel in familysearch.org, Web:[71]
• U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940, Ethel's confirmation in Ancestry.com, Web:[72]
• U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940. Ethel in birth/baptism record of daughter Joann in Ancestry.com, Web:[73]
• U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940, Ethel in birth/baptism record of son Ronald in Ancestry.com, Web:[74]
• U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940, Ethel mentioned in record of son Norman in Ancestry.com, Web:[75]

• MARRIAGE RECORDS
• North Dakota, U.S., Select County Marriages, 1890-2020 for Ethel and Wllliam in Ancestry.com:[76]

• SOCIAL SECURITY RECORDS
• Social Security Death Index for Ethel in Ancestry.com, Web:[77]
• Social Security Death Index for Ethel in familysearch.org, Web:[78]
• Social Security Death Index for Ethel in genealogybank.com, Web:[79]
• Social Security Death Index for Ethel in myheritage.com, Web:[80]
• Social Security Death Index for Ethel in fold3.com, Web:[81]
• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Ethel mentioned in record of son, Norman, in Ancestry.com, Web:[82]
• Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007, Ethel mentioned in record of son, Norman, in familysearch.org, Web:[83]

• U.S. PHONE AND ADDRESS DIRECTORIES
• 1994-1995 U.S. Phone and Address Directories, 1993-2002 in Ancestry.com, Web:[84]

• MISCELLANEOUS NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
• 1959 Ethel mentioned in Aberdeen American News, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Tues, 7 Apr 1959, pg 2 regarding daughter, Joann's trip to Girls and Boys State in genealogy bank.com, Web:[85]
• 1962 Ethel attends the School Lunch Cooks Short Course in the Aberdeen American News, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Thurs 5 Jul 1962, pg 19 in genealogybank.com, Web:[86]
• 1964 - Ethel starts new school year as school cook in Aberdeen American News, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Sun, 23 Aug 1964, pg 31 in genealogy bank.com, Web:[87]

• NEWSPAPER ARTICLES - HOSPITALIZATION
• 25 Sep 1920 - Ethel had surgery in Wolverton Hospital in The Emmons County Record, Linton, North Dakota, Thurs, 30 Sep 1920, pg 5 in genalogybank.com, Web:[88]
• 25 Sep 1920 - Ethel had surgery in Wolverton Hospital in The Emmons County Record, Linton, North Dakota, Thurs, 30 Sep 1920, pg 4 in newspapers.com, Web:[89]
• 20 Jul 1971 - Ethel released from Mobridge Community Hospital in Aberdeen American News, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Tues, 27 Jul 1971, pg 2 in genealogy bank.com, Web:[90]
• 30 Jul 1971 - Ethel released from Mobridge Community Hospital in Aberdeen American News, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Thurs 5 Aug 1971, RFD, 6 Aug 1971, pg 8 in genealogy bank.com, Web:[91]
• 5 May 1985 - Ethel dismissed from Mobridge Community Hospital in Aberdeen American News, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Fri, 10 May 1985, pg 6A in genealogy bank.com, Web:[92]
• 7 April 1986 - Ethel admitted to Mobridge Community Hospital in Aberdeen American News, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Thurs, 10 Apr 1986, pg 2B indexed pg 6 in genealogy bank.com, Web:[93]
• 12 April 1986 - Ethel dismissed from Mobridge Community Hospital in Aberdeen American News, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Thurs, 17 Apr 1986, pg 6A in genealogybank.com, Web:[94]

• MILITARY RECORDS
• Ethel mentioned on WWII Draft Registration of husband, William in Ancestry.com, Web:[95]
• Ethel mentioned on WWII Draft Registration of husband, William in fold3.com - front at fold3.com, Web:[96] -- reverse at fold3.com, Web:[97]

• DEATH RECORDS
• Social Security Death Index see Social Security Records
• North Dakota, U.S., State Death Certificates, 1908-2007 for Ethel in Ancestry.com, Web:[98]
• Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current in the Bismarck Tribune for Ethel in Ancestry.com, Web:[99]
• Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current in the Bismarck Tribune for Ethel in newspapers.com, Web:[100]
• Ethel's funeral in the Aberdeen Daily News in genealogybank.com, Web:[101]
• Ethel's funeral in The Bismarck Tribune, Bismarck, North Dakota, Thurs, 30 Jun 1994, pg 11A in newspapers.com, Web:[102]
• GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011 in familysearch.org, Web:[103]
• Ethel's obit in Aberdeen American News, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Wed, 29 Jun 1994, page 2B indexed page 10 in genealogy bank.com, Web:[104]
• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1700s-Current for Ethel in Ancestry.com, Web:[105]
• Find A Grave Index, 1700s-Current for Ethel in familysearch.org, Web:[106]
• North Dakota, Find A Grave Index, 1861-2011 for Ethel, in Ancestry.com, Web:[107]
• Find a Grave memorial for Ethel in findagrave.com, Web:[108]
• North Dakota, U.S., State Death Certificates, 1908-2007, Ethel on death certificate of husband, William, in Ancestry.com, Web:[109]
• GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011, Ethel Mentioned in the Record of her husband Mr William Herman Backhaus ini familysearch.org, Web:[110]
• Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, Ethel mentioned in record of son Norman in The Bismarck Tribune, 12 Feb 1989 in Ancestry.com, Web:[111]
• Ethel mentioned in son, Norman's obituary in the The Bismarck Tribune, Bismarck, North Dakota, Sun,12 Feb 1989, pg 15A indexed pg 14 in newspapers.com, Web:[112]
• Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, Ethel mentioned in record of son Norman in The Bismarck Tribune, 12 Feb 1989 in newspapers.com, Web:[113]
• GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011 Ethel mentioned in record of son Norman in familysearch.org, Web:[114]
• Ethel mentioned in obituary of son, Norman, in the Aberdeen American News, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Sun 12 Feb 1989, pg 2C indexed pg 18 in genealogy bank.com, Web:[115]
• United States Obituary Collection, Ethel mentioned in record of daughter, Joann, in Ancestry.com, Web:[116]
• U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current, Ethel mentioned in record of son Ronald in Ancestry.com, Web:[117]