Dallas J. Backer

Dallas “Dal” J. Backer, 84, died Saturday, December 28, 2024, at the Fargo VA Medical Center.

Dallas Joel Backer was born in Fargo, ND to James Harrison (Green) Backer and Gwendolyn Richards Backer. He grew up in Fargo and attended St. Mary’s, Woodrow Wilson, Roosevelt, Ben Franklin and Fargo Central High School, graduating in the Class of 1958. He then attended NDSU until he entered the Army for three years from 1961 – 1964. He went to bootcamp in Colorado and from there he moved to California, working as a medical tech.

In 1965, he married Sharon “Shari” Boyd and adopted her two children, Jaime and Kenneth and then they had two more children, Michelle and Richard. Later, Dal and Shari divorced, and he remarried Carol Palmer and later Kathy Garcia.

After the Army, he worked at Baxter Pharmaceuticals and Stewart Pharmaceuticals. He then worked for State Farm Insurance until retiring. In his retirement, he worked for Enterprise Care Rentals at a “fun job” delivering cars whenever and wherever needed to different parts of the country. He loved to travel, but would probably say his favorite place on Earth was the Richards family farm near Peever, SD. This is where he spent most of his summers growing up and he considered it his second home.

In 2008, Dallas moved from California to the Midwest and he settled in Moorhead, MN. After a long-distance courtship of over 30 years, in 2021, he married Cynthia “Cindy” Spengler, who remained devotedly by his side, carefully monitoring his care, until his passing.

Dallas was well loved and he will be missed at the America Legion in Moorhead where he would gather for lunch on Thursday and Bingo on Friday. 

He is preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, Dr. DH Lawrence; sister, Judy (Jerry) Johnson; special aunt, Ann Richards; stepsons, Michael and Shaun Spengler; and his beloved service dog, Zee.

He leaves behind his wife, Cindy; children, Michelle (Mitch) Bourget and Rick (Jeanna) Lawrence; stepdaughter, Kim Spengler; stepsons, Jaime Holland and Kenny (Tamera); sister, Diane (Julius) Johnson; brother, Les (Brenda) Backer; grandchildren, Jessyca, Kaleb, Corey and Danny; nieces, Monique, Rachel and Leslie; many cousins; and good friends, Jim Gompf and Gary Schultz.

The family would like to express their thanks and appreciation for the loving thoughts, prayers, visits and care for Dallas.

No services are scheduled at this time.  Information will be updated as it is available.