Ella I. Campbell

1925 - 2023

Ella Irene Baerwald Campbell, 98, Langdon formerly of Cando, North Dakota passed away Friday, July 28, 2023 at Maple Manor in Langdon.  She left this life peacefully and quietly, firm in her belief of God’s love and promise of a new spiritual home.Funeral Services will be held on Monday, August 7, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. at Cando Lutheran Church, Cando, North Dakota.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial will be at the Union Cemetery in Egeland, ND.

Born on a farm homestead near Egeland, ND to Ludwig and Olga (Depner) Baerwald on May 28, 1925, Ella grew up in a farming family of parents and six children.  Attending school at Egeland, Ella graduated and went to work, contributing to the World War II effort in the area of Seattle, WA.  Returning to the Egeland area, Ella married Harold Campbell on May 20, 1945 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Egeland.  In a few years, Ella and Harold moved to their farm home on Highway 281 where Ella remained until October 2011.  Following Harold’s death, Ella took up residency in Cando at Prairie View Assisted Living, moving from there in 2021 to Maple Manor in Langdon where she died.

For sixty-four years, Ella was a partner in creating a successful farm.  As a housewife, she became skilled in cooking, baking, gardening, sewing, milking (her LEAST favorite), canning, driving a grain truck, etc. while caring for her 5 children and supporting each child’s school activities.  Every harvest season found Ella and Harold together, driving through each swathed grain field and deciding on its readiness for combining.  When life allowed her the evening’s relaxation, Ella enjoyed putting her feet up and watching Lawrence Welk or a sport event on TV; ANY sport was entertaining to her!  Ella and Harold could also be found playing a game of cribbage at the end of their long working days.  Ella loved the many compliments she garnered for the delicious foods she created.  An early morning riser, she baked the bread and made her peanut butter logs before sitting down for the mid-morning snack.  Besides being an early riser, Ella believed in always being on time; an hour early was required and anything less than that left her feeling she was late.  Although she held high expectations for her family, Ella could light up the room with her laughter.  Her laugh moved from inside out, bubbling up and through her in an infectious experience of joy for all who were there.

Ella had a life-long spiritual relationship with God.  Her belief in Jesus was strong, ever-present and her anchor.  The Church and all of its activities were special places for her. Most of all, her joy was singing the hymns.  Guiding her family to a front pew, Ella sang her joy with a voice of love, faith and true pitch.

Ella is survived by three daughters, Mary (Don) Schumacher of Tucson, AZ, Elaine Haugen of Langdon, ND and Irene Adler of Sandpoint ID; two sons, Ray (Paula) Campbell of Tucson, AZ and Robert (Marlene) Campbell of Yuma, AZ; ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Ella is preceded in death by her parents Ludwig and Olga Baerwald, husband Harold Campbell, brothers Wally Baerwald, Gert Baerwald, and Hugo Baerwald, sisters Silvia Haus and Anita Cantrell and son-in-law Don Haugen.

Ella’s family would like any memorial donations to be made to Cando Lutheran Church or Maple Manor of Langdon.

In Ella’s spirit, her family would like to leave you with this message from Isaiah 46:4 “And I will still be carrying you when you are old.  Your hair will turn gray, and I will still carry you.  I made you, and I will carry you to safety.”