Wayzata, MN - Marilyn "Mickey" (Gable) Backlund

Wayzata, MN - Marilyn Joyce Backlund, 95, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 4, 1931, and passed away on September 27, 2026.

Mickey was loved by many and lived a life devoted to caring for her family and friends.

She grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Roosevelt High School, where she was a talented violinist, rising to concert mistress in the orchestra. Her childhood summers were spent at the family cabin at Lake Minnetonka, where she became a strong swimmer, often swimming across Cooks Bay, and she was a synchronized swimmer in the Aqua Follies during the Minneapolis Aquatennial.

Mickey attended Macalester College and then the University of Minnesota, where she majored in home economics. Summer breaks from college were spent at Glacier Park, where she worked as a waitress at Many Glacier Hotel. Prior to raising a family, she taught home economics, where she particularly enjoyed teaching boys to sew when she switched classes with the shop teacher for part of every year.

Mickey married Robert "Bob" Backlund in 1952, beginning a partnership that would last more than 74 years. Sons Dave and Paul were born in South St. Paul, and then Jim was born after the family moved to Hutchinson.

Hutchinson is where the kids did most of their growing up, and these years were filled with golf and other sports, and summers at the nearby family cabin on Lake Minnie-Belle. Keeping hockey skates tight and kids warm with hot chocolate were part of every winter, along with family ski trips to Colorado. Great friendships were made through bridge clubs and community organizations.

With Jim in high school, the family moved to Deephaven. Later, as empty nesters, Mickey and Bob moved to Austin, Texas, for the final chapter of Bob's career with 3M before retirement.

In Texas, they loved spending time with grandkids by the pool, playing golf, learning to swing dance, and they traveled extensively.

As life began to slow down, they returned to Minnesota and joined the Folkestone community in Wayzata, where they again made many new friends. Mickey was a skilled bridge player throughout her life, and was sought after as a substitute in the men's bridge group at Folkestone.

Mickey found joy in close friendships, in helping her family thrive, and in sharing a lifetime with Bob.

Preceded in death by her parents, James D. and Madge R. Gable, and her sister, Patricia Solomonson. Survived by her husband Bob, her children Dave, Paul, and Jim, daughters-in-law Joanne and Theresa, grandchildren Harry, Ryan, Caley, Sara, and Anne, and eleven great grandchildren.

A memorial celebration will be held at Folkestone in Wayzata at 2:00 on November 3, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Children's Minnesota, or a charity of your choice.

David Lee Funeral Home has assisted with arrangements.