Alethea Eugenia Backensto

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Lee was born Alethea Eugenia Gervais on February 26, 1929. Lee died, October 23, 2022. She was born to Eugene and Arvilla Wilson Gervais.

Lee graduated in the class of 1948 from Troy High School in Troy, New York. She went on to graduate from the Home Economics-Food & Dietetics program at the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology in Cobbleskill, NY.

June 30, 1951, Lee married Dr. Arthur B. Backensto, Jr. (Art) of Troy, New York. Art was an Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) graduate with a doctorate in Metallurgical Engineering. She is survived by their children; son, Terry Backensto (Arthur B. Backensto Ill) and his wife, Kim of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Daughter, Karen Koepke and her husband, Rich of Heath, Texas, granddaughter, Amy Boyd,and her husband, Justin of Palm Bay, Florida, and 2 great-grandchildren, Brayleigh Ann Boyd 9age 5 1/2) and Preston Michael Boyd (age 2 1/2).

The Backenstos lived in Troy, NY and Norristown, PA until moving and settling in Crown Point, IN in 1966. Lee was very activity in her church, (First Presbyterian Church Of Crown Point), and numerous other activities and organizations over the years. Lee was employed in the dietetic field, before and after her marriage, and later in life, after a number of years in the retail sewing realm, became an accomplished seamstress with a thriving home business. After Art died in May of 2015, Lee remained in Crown Point in Wittenberg Village until she moved to the Dallas, Texas area in 2018 to be nearer her daughter, Karen. At her death, Lee was living in Brookdale Summer Ridge, a senior assisted living community in Rockwall, TX.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Alzheimer Association and condolences can be sent to Karen at 208 James Drive, Heath, TX, 75032 and/or Terry Backensto at 1113 N. 86th Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85257.