Roland Backfisch

ROLAND WILLIAM BACKFISCH, 95, of Golden Valley, passed away peacefully on September 14, 2020 at Marian Manor HealthCare Center in Glen Ullin with loved ones at his side.  Due to Covid precautions, a private family service will be held.

A public visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM CDT, Thursday at Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah.  He will be laid to rest at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan at a later date.

Roland was born on August 14, 1925, to William and Katherine (Dockter) Backfisch, and grew up on the family farm 10 miles south of Golden Valley.  He was proud to join the Navy on Oct. 15, 1942 at the age of 17.  He saw action in Sicily, Palermo, Italy, Normandy, France, Okinawa, and in the grand finish in Tokyo Bay from August 28, 1945 to December 1, 1945.  He received an honorable discharge on January 4, 1946.

Upon returning home he went to Washington State to work at Boeing, but decided early on it was not where he wanted to be.  He returned to Golden Valley to run the Hardware Store his father owned.  During this time he was also the Golden Valley sub rural mail carrier.  He later became the fulltime carrier.  Roland also drove school bus for many years.

On July 4, 1970, he married Irene (Breitling) Quast.  Together they ran the hardware store for nearly 30 years.  After retiring they enjoyed several years of traveling in their motorhome.

Roland’s greatest passion was flying his plane.  During the winters of 1951 and 1952, he flew many mothers and their new born babies to their rural homes where no other transportation was possible because of heavy snows.

Roland was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by his wife, Irene of 50 years; his step-children, Peggy (Dennis) Schettler of Halliday, George (Donna) Quast of Hazen; his grandson, John Paul (Cassie) Klein of West Fargo; his step-grandchildren, Lisa (Mike) Van Horn of Ashley, ND, Dawna (Anthony) Richmond of Austin, TX, Stephanie Isaak of Bismarck, Jason Quast of West Fargo, Brad Quast of Fargo, and Myles (Stefanie) Shettler of Bismarck and Lacey (Travis) Kuhn of Bismarck; great-grandchildren, Jordon and Ashley Richmond, Sydney Shepard, Shaylee Cameron, Jacob and James Quast, Daniel, Taren, Mason and Eleanor Klein, Presley and Logan Shettler, and Atley and Esley Kuhn; his sisters, Florence Sasse of California and Eleanore Lindemann of Golden Valley, ND.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Amy; an infant son, Alan; one grandson, Danny; one brother, Robert; one sister, Ruth Gulley; one sister-in-law, Ida; brothers-in-law, George Gulley and Elmer Sasse.

Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Roland Backfisch, please visit our floral store.