Surnames: Billington, Backus, Boettcher, Dreger, Meir, Bachers, Sebenthall, Sprague

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark Co., Wis.) 06/26/1941

Billington, Mildred (24 JUN 1941)

A lovely and beautiful candle-light church service uniting Miss Mildred Billington, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Billington of Withee and Norman Backus, son of Mrs. Henry Backus of Chippewa Falls in marriage, was performed at eight o’clock Tuesday evening, June 24, at the Zion Evangelical church at Chippewa Falls. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Robert Boettcher of Fond du Lac, a cousin of the bridegroom.

Before the service a short musical prelude was played at the organ by Miss Bernice Meir.

The bride, wearing a street length dress of navy blue net with a fitted jacket of white eyelet trim and a corsage of white roses and pale pink peas, entered the church on the arm of her father and was given in marriage. During the service three vocal numbers were sung by Miss Mildred Backus, sister of the groom and Ray Bachers of Cornell.

The bridesmaid, Miss Dorothy Sebenthall of Chippewa Falls, a close friend of the bride, wore a dress similar to the bride’s of dusty pink with white accessories, and wore a corsage of pale pink rose buds and sweet peas.

The bridegroom and the best man, Harlow Backus, a brother of the bridegroom, wore the conventional dark business suits.

Following the service a reception was held at the home of Mrs. Henry Backus. The home was attractively decorated for the occassion and a four tier wedding cake was the centerpiece of the table decorations.

Ushers at the service were Robert Dreger, a cousin of the groom, and William Sprague, a close friend of the groom.

Miss Billington is a graduate of the Withee high school and also attended the Neillsville Teachers Training course and a graduate of the Central State Teachers college at Stevens Point. For the past six years she has taught school within the county.

Mr. Backus attended the Eau Claire Teachers college and the University of Wisconsin. For the past several years he has been teaching mathematics and directing music in the high school at Elmwood.

Immediately following the reception the newlyweds left on a ten day trip through northern Wisconsin and Canada. After August 1 they will be at home at Elmwood.

Several pre-nuptial showers were given in honor of the bride. A group of friends honored her at a shower at the Moody school where she had taught for several years. Another was given at the Kurth cottage on Lake Wissota, by the Chrisian Endeavor group of the Zion Evangelical church of Chippewa Falls.

The Enterprise and their host of friends are sincere in wishing them a long and happy wedded life.