Obituary

Theodore Elyea Funeral Rites Held At Backus

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, for James Theodore Elyea. The final rites were spoken in the Backus Congregational Church with Reverend Edward Smith officiating.
The singers were the Young People's Choir who sang "Face to Face," the Girl's Trio sang "Safe in the Arms of Jesus" and a solo by Marvin Vincent, "Beyond the Sunset." Pallbearers were: Elmer Bloom, Bert Eveland, Gerald Eveland, Darrel Somers, Kermit Zaffke and Steve Palmer. Interment was in Backus Evergreen Cemetery.
The large number of sorrowing friends and floral offerings bore testimony to the high regard that Mr. Elyea enjoyed in the Backus Community. His tragic death in the prime of life shocked the entire county.
James Theodore Elyea was born Aug. 13, 1905 at Jewell, Kansas. He lived there until 1915 when the family moved to Backus, Minn. He lived there until manhood at which time he went to Wisconsin, where he met and married Ann Chrast. To them were born four sons, Theodore Jr., twin sons, Leo and Lester, and Harold. They lived in and around Salem, Wis. for 18 years, with the exception of one and half years of that time, when they lived at Backus where the eldest son was born. A year ago last April, he and his family moved to Backus where Ted had work in Eveland's Garage and later leased it for himself. In June, 1950 he accepted Christ as his Savior and in August was baptized. Ted and Ann have been counselors of the young peoples group of the Cong. Church since that time.
His mother, two brothers, Harry and Ward, and a sister, Jennett, preceded him in death. He leaves his wife, Ann, four sons, Theodore, Jr., twin sons, Leo and Lester, and Harold; also his father, Charles Elyea; four brothers Edwin of Belleville, Kans., Ira of Chicago, Cecil of Salem, Wis. and Dale of Woodstock, Ill; three sisters, Helen Palmer, Des Moines, Ia.; Stella Skeesuck, of Backus, and Bula Coonts of Snohomish, Wash., besides many nephews and nieces and a host of friends.
Source: Cass County Independent, August 10, 1951