Erma Marie Backenstose, 91, of Ostego, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021 at The Brook Retirement Community in Gaylord surrounded by her family. She was born Dec. 10, 1929 in East Detroit to Edward and Irene (Hildenbrand) Luscomb. In 1947, she met her future husband, Gerald (Jerry) Backenstose, from Gaylord and they married in 1949.
Erma grew up in St. Clair Shores where she attended primary school and in Romeo where she graduated high school in 1947. She attended Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti and studied to be a school teacher.
She raised her three amazing children, Cyndi, Jim and Penny in Romeo. She was a homemaker, a PTA President and a member of the Sisson Suzie’s Home Extension Club.
Summer vacations and hunting trips would bring the family to Otsego County, and in 1970, the family moved permanently to Gaylord. In 1971, Erma began working in the Ostego County Treasurer’s office. She was elected Otsego County Treasurer in 1980. Erma held the position for 33 years until she retired with plans to travel to Florida and Tennessee to visit her children and grandchildren. However, after only a year of retirement, she felt her work in the community was not complete, and ran for and was elected to the Osetgo County Commission representing Otsego Lake Township.
Erma loved Otsego County and committed herself to community service. Being aware that Gaylord was an aging community, Erma was a strong proponent of implementing initiatives to assist seniors in their daily lives. From supporting parks and bike paths, to making those heavy winter doors easier to open, she fought to make Otsego County a place for residents to not just live, but thrive. She was an active member of the Otsego County Library board and would often win intense arguments to support their efforts. Erma was acharter and active member of the Zonta service organization as well as serving as the club’s President.
In 2005, she was awarded the “Golden Hug Award” for her commitment to service and volunteering. She was awarded the “Lifetime Princess of the Purse for Outstanding and Dedicated Service” by the Michigan Association of County Treasurers, recognized for commitment and dedication to the Otsego County Republican Party for her years of service, as well as having Dec. 30, 2003 declared as “Erma Backenstose Day” in Otsego County by the Board of Commissioners due to her endless contributions and impacts to the community.
Her daily calendars were filled with meetings and community events, however her true joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren. Whether it was taking care of them after surgeries, or attending hockey games and dance recitals, Erma was always there with her love and support. She loved traveling with her daughters, watching game shows with her son, and “golfing” with her daughter-in-law. She loved music and food, and always looked forward to her weekly lunches with her friends and salad lunches at the Congregational Church. She loved cooking and would often experiment with recipes after watching her cooking shows and adding her special touches. She called or Facetimed her granddaughter every Saturday where she provided detailed updates on what was happening in Otsego County. She loved watching tennis and only stopped watching when she could no longer see the ball cross the court. She lived independently in the home her husband built for her until May of 2021.
While Erma’s passing leaves a hole in our hearts, her legacy lives on in her work and her family.
She is survived by her children, Cynthia Fettig (w) of Jackson, Tenn. and Johannesburg, Mich., Jim (Mary) of Gaylord, and Penny (Craig) Wahlberg of Palm City, Fla. and Brewster, Mass.; grandchildren, Tracy Fettig of Murfreesboro, Tenn., TJ Fettig (Danuzia) of Chattanooga, Tenn, and James Backenstose of Las Vegas.
Because of her love of the snow, a Celebration of Life will be held this winter in December. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests donations to be sent to Otsego County Library, the Otsego County Animal Shelter, Zonta, or the Commission on Aging; all organizations that were close to her heart.
