Mrs. Mary Joan Campbell

Mrs. Mary Campbell of High River, Alberta passed away at AgeCare Shawnee in Calgary on July 5, 2026 at the age of 92 years. Today as you are reading this, I am writing my own history. I have decided it's time for me to go and see all of my old and young friends, my family and my wonderful husband Lee Campbell. I was born the youngest of my 10 siblings. My folks were Dutch Immigrants, William Guterson Sr and Antoinette (Lefebre) Guterson. Drumheller, the dinosaur town. It was a wonderful place to grow up in. I was able to do everything, mostly all sports; tennis, swimming in the Red Deer River, playing ice hockey and a wonderful swim club. With this club sometimes we could travel out of Drumheller and see some different towns and compete in swim meets. All these sports were free, so you didn't have to have a lot of money to belong to things. My parents did not have a car as we lived in town. Our Dad was the Fire Chief and had a business of painting and decorating homes. My Mom was always at home of course. A very busy woman. School was a great place to go to. We all could meet on the corner, walk to school but we had to always walk home for our lunch. Sometimes this was difficult in the cold winters. They used to plow the streets so we walked on them back and forth. I did a tremendous amount of babysitting due to the fact I sure did know a lot of babies from our big family and all my nephews and nieces. I really loved to babysit and these folks were very good to me. The place for us to hang out and meet our friends was the People's Bakery and the Corner Cafe. We used to always go and buy our goodies and then go to the matinee show at the Napier Theatre. It was $0.15 cents for a matinee and $0.05 cents for a bag of peanuts. When we became older, we all danced at the Elks Hall. Again, we would meet at the Corner Cafe or be picked up at home. We sure had a great time dancing to a band called Bobby Hoy and The Bad Landers. Sometimes we went to other country dances. We'd all pile in a car, put a few nickels in the gas tank and away we'd go. No seatbelts in those days. Lots of fun. School was over and I worked for Alberta Government Telephones and became the head telephone operator and payroll officer and supervisor. Drumheller was a very busy town. It was mostly coal mining and then oil was discovered. I will never forget the day that Mr. Russell Kidd and some friends discovered oil on a huge lease land. These men celebrated for a whole week because I think they all became millionaires. The happiest man was the Bank Manager at the Bank of Montreal. Mr. Anderson who had loaned them all quite a lot of money, was so happy he was to get the loans repaid. With this oil being discovered, it sure was nice to come home and have a warm house with furnaces, not all banked with coal. It was easier for our folks to maintain a warm home. Now it was on to take a transfer to Calgary, where I did not stay long with Alberta Government Telephones. I was fortunate to work for Gulf Oil. This office was on the 6th Floor of the Hudson Bay on 7th Avenue. This was a wonderful change so I could have a chance to get to know Calgary after work. My great happiness is where I found the love of my life, Lee Campbell. Lee had roots in Edmonton but was working in Calgary when I met him. We were married in Drumheller, my home town on May 18, 1957. A huge wedding, full of family and dear friends. We eventually moved to High River in 1958 to a very old school house called the Elite School from Mazeppa. We were able to purchase this land and we commuted back and forth to Calgary. Then it was time to fill the house full of kids. We adopted our daughter Nora Ann and son Casey John. We also gave home to Foster children Sylvia and Judy and for a short time Lawrence. Those days were busy days but it was wonderful to live in the country. This western town of High River was a busy town. We were able to get really involved as Lee was an absolute rodeo buff. We raised horses on our place and the children were all in 4H. During those times we were really involved with the High River Agriculture Society. Lee was the Little Britches Chairman for a long time and I organized a lot of the 4H clubs to make a little extra money by picking up pop bottles and cleaning bleachers for the May Little Britches Rodeo. In the Winter, we taught them all how to ski and they were involved in their organizations and school. During this time, I worked for Gerry Going, Going Auction Market for 25 years. I loved that job! I did a small session at the Royal Bank in High River and then it was on to Farmway Machinery working for Jack Hervey and Hugh Joyce. I retired from there. Lee retired from the Federal Government working in Canada Pension. Then it was travel time. We went to PEI where Lee's roots were and all over North America to every rodeo we could see. A good life we really had. Now for me, I always was busy in the garden and flowers. My Dutch roots were always in my hands. Once in a while, there was a wreck on the Little Bow Homestead. Those deer, they sure did like my flowers. We kept them out of the garden mostly by our huge fence. I loved to can and eat all those fresh vegetables. I did a lot of petit point pictures, quilts and knitting mostly for new babies. I was secretary Treasurer as a Part Time job for the Medicine Tree Manor. I really enjoyed the senior citizens. There will be no funeral by my request. All I say to you is, when you are on Earth, it's wonderful to do all the baking and cooking and sharing with your friends because friends are my most precious possessions. When you go out of this world, in your hands you have nothing but what you gave away. Remember that in your lifetime that it is more important than going out with money and too many possessions. Instead of flowers, please make a donation to the High River District Hospital Foundation or a charity of your choice. Please don't stand at my grave and weep. I am not there. I am up with all of my family. Mary was predeceased by her Mother and Father and siblings; Annie, Nettie, Bill Jr, Dolly, Frances, Margaret, Theresa, Adolph, George and Patricia and her husband Lee Campbell (2004). She is survived by her daughter Nora Ann, granddaughter Alicia, and son Casey John (Alix) and many nieces and nephews. Mary will be interred with her husband Lee at the Highwood Cemetery. Caring for the family is Lyle Reeves Funerals of High River (Craig Snodgrass) 403.652.4242.

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Mrs. Mary Joan Campbell

January 31, 1934 - July 5, 2026