Farmer, community activist.
Born at Clarkleigh on 28 October 1921 to Kristine Sigfridur Benediktsson (1899-1929) and Gudni Backman (1891-1973), he spent most of his life in the Interlake area. He served for three years in the Royal Canadian Air Force as an engine mechanic on the Tiger Moth and Fairchild Cornell aircraft at the Virden Elementary Flying Training School. In 1946, he married Adeline Irene Herner and they went on to have two daughters.
He was a beef and dairy farmer as well as the postmaster in Lundar, and spent his life serving the community in various other capacities: Councillor of Ward 3 of the Municipality of Coldwell for 12 years, during which time the Council brought in a town sewage system, paved the streets, created a fire department and an ambulance facility. He was a member of the Lundar Fire Brigade; representative of the East Shore Ambulance Service and Volunteer Ambulance Driver, along with his wife; trustee of the Morning Star School District and Lundar School District; a member and Secretary-Treasurer of the Area Development Board; hospital Board Member for six years, helping to build a doctors’ clinic and secure a doctor for the Lundar area; one of the founding members of the Lundar Seniors Home, being involved in its planning and building, as well as serving as Director, and then Secretary-Treasurer for 29 years; one of the founding members of the Lundar Flying Club, serving as Secretary-Treasurer for 35 years; Secretary-Treasurer and Organizer of the All Canada Goose Shoot for many years; Secretary-Treasurer of the Legion for 20 years, serving one year as President; volunteering at the Legion Bingo for 45 years; Secretary-Treasurer of the Lundar Elks Lodge for 29 years, with two years as the District Deputy and one year as the Exalted Ruler. His activities as a volunteer culminated in him receiving the Premier's Volunteer Service Award in 1994, which was presented by Gary Filmon.
His passions included music, singing, and airplanes. He owned and flew three different aircraft. He spent many hours making music with his family and friends, and was a member of the Melodiers and also the 1940s Playboys, performing for many dances and events over the years. Entertaining the seniors with music at Care Homes also brought him great satisfaction.
He died at Eriksdale on 31 October 2012 and was buried in the Lundar Municipal Cemetery.
Obituary, Brandon Sun, 3 November 2012.
Haraldur Bjorgvin Backman, FindAGrave.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 8 January 2026
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