Agnes Marie Peck Backes

With the last quilt completed and the final pie baked Agnes Marie (Peck) Backes, 92 of Lake Stevens

closed her eyes and went home to be with her heavenly father.

Agnes was born July 29, 1920, in Huron, South Dakota, the thirteenth of fifteen children, to Thomas

William and Lilly Dale (Schampp) Peck. They resided on their family farm in Pierre, South Dakota where

Agnes was educated in a one room school house, played baseball with her brothers, and worked on the

farm helping her mother in the kitchen.

Agnes came out to Wenatchee with her brother, Arnold, and his wife, Geneva, and there she met her

husband to be, Eldon William Backes. They returned to Pierre, South Dakota where they were married

on December 22,1937.

They started their married life in Neenah, Wisconsin returning to Wenatchee in 1940 where the first five

of their children were born. Agnes was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Catholic

Daughters of America. She worked in the fruit industry, as well as being a homemaker. She had a gift

for creativity spending many hours crocheting, sewing, and making children's clothes. Camping and

Sunday family dinners were important to her.

Eldon worked for the Great Northern Railroad and when the Railroad Roundhouse closed it caused the

family to move to Everett in 1955 where they would reside for forty years. Here her family grew by four

to nine children. She was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. She continued her

sewing by making quilts for family, exchange students, and friends. She was employed by Lawson's

Manufacturing Company. Upon closure of Lawson's Agnes went to work for the Everett School District

as a cook until her retirement.

She enjoyed supporting her children at school and their sports activities. Later she'd follow her grand

and great grandchildren's sporting, 4-H, and FFA events.

Agnes moved to Lake Stevens in 1996 continuing to make quilts and would attend Lake Steven's girls

basketball games coached by her son-in-law, Steve Berg. She enjoyed all sports and was a faithful

follower of the Seattle Mariners.

She will be remembered for her strong family values, her exemplary work ethic, and her unconditional

love. Along with being a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great grandmother she always had

homemade dessert after dinner.

Her death follows that of her husband, Eldon William Backes of 58 years (1995), son-in-law Dick Follett

(2006), and her parents, six sisters, and seven brothers.

She is survived by her daughters Brenda Follet of Ephrata, LaVerne (Ray) Schott of Mattawa, Paulette

(Steve) Berg of Lake Stevens, Tamara Gregory of Lakewood, Colorado, and Alice (Dave) Wallin of Lake

Stevens - sons Mike of Denver, Colorado, Tom (Darcie) of Arlington, Tim (Loida) of Everett, and John of

Everett. She also is survived by one brother, Clifford Peck of La Mesa, California.

Her grand and great grandchildren were the love of her life. She is survived by 15 grandchildren:

Debbie, Rick, and Rod Follett, Loreen and Marie Schott, Shawn, Michele, and Erikka Backes, Paul and

Tate Berg, Dustyn and Claire Backes, Eric and Tod Backes, and Brock Wallin - 16 great grandchildren

who knew her as GG: Kristin, Casey, Hunter, Becca, Cody, Peyton, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Addison,

Katelyn, Jack, Mason, Issac, Allium, Zinnia, and Phlox. She also is survived by numerous nephews and

nieces.

A special thanks to her next door neighbor of sixteen years, Bonnie McKay, and to her care givers for the

last eighteen months.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the local food bank or to hospice.