Alberta "Birdie" Wood-Backham

Alberta "Birdie" Lavina Wood-Backham, 73, went to be with her Heavenly Father, on July 12, 2014. She was in care at St. Lukes Elmore Hospital, Mountain Home.

Birdie was born on Sept. 5, 1940, in New York to Albert and Deloris Wood. She was raised by her parents Edna and Eugine Ferrin. She was raised and went to school in Pasadena and Baldwin Park, California.

In 1954, she married Everett James Blankenship. She thought she would never be able to have children, but burdened with a stomach ache and not feeling well on June 8, 1962, she went to the doctor and SURPRISE! she came home with a bouncing baby boy. There were two children from this marriage, Burl "LeeRoy" and Honey. The couple were later divorced.

Then she met and married LeRoy Backham Sr., on March 25, 1971, in Las Vegas, Nev. Birdie and "Lee" later moved to Idaho in 1974 and raised their children here. They together had a son, LeRoy "Dusty" Backham Jr., shortly after moving to Idaho.

Birdie was a business owner when she lived in Boise. She was partners with her best friend, Gloria Barriatua. They owned a consignment store called GloBirds. She was also a domestic goddess and took care of her home and children.

Birdie loved to craft. She made so many things she gave as gifts to friends and family and even had tables at holiday bazaars locally. If you gave her five minutes of your time she was teaching you plastic canvas creations. She also worked on cutting and decorating blown eggs. She also loved to shop and taught many of her family how to catch the best bargains. She also had a passion for B I N G O! and loved to get together with family and friends for a game of Bunco. Birdie also loved stuffed toys that made noise and little trinkets. If you had any extra nickels or quarters she would gladly take them from you in a game of cards or what her son LeeRoy fondly called "kin'ling." She also loved all things pigs and M&Ms.

She loved people but especially kids and had many "kids" and "grandkids" and she would always have a "prize" for them when they came to visit.

She poured her heart and soul into her family and friends. She loved to reminisce about the old days and share a joke or two.

She was a member of the Federation of the Blind with her husband, Lee, who lost his sight in 1996.

She is survived by her children, Honey Ray of Texas, Dusty Backham, Adrian and Jennifer Barker, Cindy Tortolano, Doris and Bill Adams, her grandchildren Clayton Barker and Vanessa Toledo, all of Mountain Home, brothers David Wood and Albert Wood, sisters Kathy, Rhea and Patricia and her very special nephew and niece David Wood and Sandy Mooney of California, her mother Phyllis Allred, several sisters and brothers, nephews, nieces and dear friends.

Birdie was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Backham, her son, Burl Blankenship, parents Edna and Eugine and John Allred, brothers Alan Wood, Dawson Wood and sisters Ann Wood, Cora Whiffen, Carma Werschky, and Lori Huntley.

At Birdie's request there will be no services. She will be cremated and set into the wall with her husband, Lee, at the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Boise. Arrangement are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.