PIERRE, SD – Myrtle Joyce Backlund, 91, of Pierre, SD died Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Pierre.

Funeral service will be 10 am on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at the church.Burial will be 1:30 pm on Thursday, May 30, 2024 in Black Hills National Cemetery at Sturgis, SD.

Myrtle was born to Henry Wells and Margaret (Elliott) Wells on February 2, 1933, in Salem, South Dakota. She grew up on the family farm near Salem and attended Salem country school. After graduating from Salem High School, Myrtle attended General Beadle college for a year and went on to teach school.

Myrtle married the love of her life, Charles Backlund, on May 30, 1954. Myrtle worked as a librarian for many years first in Woonsocket and then in Pierre, retiring from the South Dakota State Library in 1992. She was active in the church and the community, as a Cub Scout Den mother for Doug and Ted’s troops, and a 4-H club leader for Susan’s and Sally’s club chapter, and taught Sunday School for 9 years in Woonsocket. She was a member of Lutheran Circle and Bible Study, Missouri Breaks Audobon Club, and the Red Hats Society in Pierre.

Myrtle is survived by her husband Charles, her brother Martin Wells, her children, Douglas Backlund; Susan Leach and husband Richard; Sally Thom; Ted Backlund and his wife, Wendy; grandchildren Nicholas Backlund, Richard Leach, Kelly Ervin, Joshua Leach, Stephanie Scagloine, Terah Backlund, and Nathaniel Backlund, as well as 8 great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents Henry and Margaret Wells, brothers Robert Wells, Franklin Wells, and Cliften Wells; sisters Ileen Tarrell, Della Light, Charlotte Rayl, Eugena Parry, Violet Smith, and Carol Thompson, and granddaughter Aimee Lange.

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