1996 Dodge Van stalling and backfiring

Pretty hard to tell when we can't see or hear it or even perform any tests. How long since the last tune-up? Was the battery recently disconnected or run dead? What does "getting worse" mean? Will it stay running if you hold the gas pedal down a little? Does it backfire first, then stall, or could it be backfiring because it is stopping? Does it run ok at highway speed? Has the Check Engine light been coming on while driving?

Caradiodoc