The Campbells have been a fixture in the Becker community for as long as I can remember. Carol (Gohman) and Don Campbell bought their farm southwest of Santiago from Gilmore and Minnie Secord on May 2, 1961. They raised Holstein cows and had farrow to hog operation. Don and Carol had ten children: Ellen, Donna, LuAnn, Wayne, Brenda, Ronald, Laura, Lewis, Daniel and Sherlyn. Don worked construction as a heavy equipment operator all over the state of Minnesota and also worked on the Grand Forks, ND Air Base. Carol provided childcare in their home for over 30 years.

 

Most of the Campbell family has been active members of the Lions/Lioness. Don served on the board for the Department of Ag, often serving as chair, in the 1980’s and early 1990’s until his death. Alan Peterson was elected to fill the vacancy. 

 

The Erickson and Campbell families have a lot in common. Both of our families had 10 children, were dairy farmers and understood the value of hard work. We attended South Santiago Church, played softball and went to school with the Campbell kids.

 

My mom attended grade school with Don (District 24 one room school near Palmer). She recalls how worried she and her classmates were when Don was seriously injured in an accidental shooting. He was working for his dad on a haystack during hunting season and was struck by a stray bullet. He was hospitalized for a long time and missed a great deal of school. Dons' sister Margaret (Peggy) was one of my mom’s very best friends all through school. 

 

Don served faithfully on the Santiago township board for many years and was instrumental in saving a lovely mature cottonwood tree near my parents’ farm. The Santiago-Becker township line road was being widened and we were told every tree would be removed. My mom recently recalled how Don sat on my parent’s deck and explained how he would do all he could to see that the cottonwood tree was saved, which he did. It meant a lot to our family. Not long after the tree was removed, I noticed a couple enjoying a picnic lunch under that tree on a beautiful summer day. It turns out they were not from the area, but were struck by the beauty of the cottonwood tree Don fought to save.

 

My twin sister and I were in the same class as Sheryln. I knew every one of the Campbell kids, but didn’t spend as much time with the older kids because many of them were grown before I entered school. I saw Ronnie more than most of his siblings because I worked as a clerk at Virgil Gilyard’s filling station in Santiago for many years in the mid 1980’s. He often filled up with gas while working on his parents’ farm. Ronnie was always kind and I enjoyed visiting with him. He always had a sweet, contagious smile. 

 

It seems when I was young, I thought the good people in my life would be around forever. We find out that’s not the case. Life marches on and people come and go in our lives. But our lives are forever touched by neighbors and friends who make life good. The Campbell’s fall into that category. 

 

The Campbell family has had their share of tragedy. Like our family, they lost a young son in the 1960’s. Wayne Campbell died in 1964 at the age of six. My brother Alan died at the age of 8 in 1968. One of Don and Carol’s daughters - Ellen - died of breast cancer in 1998 at the age of 44.   

 

Don and Carol lost a grandson - Cole (Dan’s son) the same year they lost their daughter Ellen. Cole died on January 2, 1998.  Don passed away of a heart attack in 2000. Don and Carols’ granddaughter Renee (Fischer) Hallberg (their daughter Laura's youngest child) died November 13, 2014 in a car accident when she hit black ice and lost control of her car. This loss happened shortly after Ron received his terminal cancer diagnosis. Don and Carol’s granddaughter Danyell Pozorski shared: “Our family has experienced a lot of heartache and loss. Our strong-knit family and faith in God has seen us through.” 

 

Ron continued to farm after Don passed away. He worked for Magnuson Truck Repair in Rogers while he was farming and also drove truck over the road with Don Iten for a period of time. They sold the cows about 10 years ago. 

 

For the past eight years, Ron worked for Kwik Kargo in Clear Lake. 

 

Ron and his wife of 2 years (Jen) have continued to live on the same farm with his mom (Carol). Ron’s sisters and nieces tell me he has always been very thoughtful and helpful, doing whatever needed to be done (snow shoveling, errands, etc.) on the family farm after his dad’s passing. 

 

Ron has been too sick to work because of the chemo and radiation treatments. Without a miracle, Ron’s time on earth is short. A benefit to raise money to help ease some of his family's financial burden is planned for Saturday (Jan 23) from 2-8pm at Mr. Jims in Foley. Monetary donations can be made at Sherburne State Bank in Becker under the Ronald A. Campbell Benefit Fund.

 

Although time and distance have separated my siblings and the Campbells, the Ericksons continue to feel blessed by their friendship and pray for their family.