Victor W. Backhus, 87, of Herington, died Aug. 8 at Salina Regional Medical Center.

Born Nov. 29, 1921, on a farm near Tampa, he was the oldest son of William and Martha (Meyer) Backhus.

He retired in 1987 from civil service with the aerospace department at Fort Riley.

He married Loretta Jean Gentz on April 30, 1950, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Ramona. She preceded him in death March 20, 1979. A son, Gail Backhus who died Oct. 17, 1997; a brother, Martin Backhus; and a sister, Emma Palson, also preceded him.

Survivors include two daughters, Lynette Granzow of Mammoth Spring, Ark., and Donetta McClain of Salina; a son, Glenn Backhus of Owasso, Okla.; two brothers, Alvin Backhus of Hiawatha and Paul Backhus of Tampa; four sisters, Ruth Taylor of Shawnee, Mildred Berhardt of Lyons, Alice Yoachum of Wichita, and Lydia Evans of Haysville; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Herington. The Rev. Troy Slater will officiate.

Burial will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery.

Friends may call at Penwell-Gable Funeral Home, Herington chapel, 2 to 7 p.m. today. A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. tonight.

Memorials to the church may be sent in care of the funeral home.