Deacon Douglas Campbell passes away

Deacon Douglas C. Campbell of St. John’s Parish in Wahpeton, passed away on Mar. 13 in Fargo. He was a cherished member of St. John’s and served there as a permanent deacon after his ordination in November 2008. 

Deacon Campbell was born in Bismarck on Feb. 15, 1942, to Carl and Freda (Mueller) Campbell. He graduated from Bismarck High School and went on to attend NDSU in Horticulture. There he met the love of his life, Mary Kathryn Breitbach, whom he wed on Apr. 24, 1965, at St. Mary’s Church in rural Dazey. He managed the Shotwell Floral and Greenhouse on the north side of Fargo, then moved to the Shotwell location on the south side. He was involved in Nativity Church in Fargo, including singing in the choir. 

In 1977 he bought a greenhouse in Breckenridge, Minn., naming it Four Season Plant Center. He also worked for Minn-Dakota Cooperative, retiring in 2012, then took a pastoral care position at St. Francis Medical Center until 2018. He also volunteered his time and efforts from singing in the choir to being on committees and being a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus. After retirement, Deacon Campbell took on many heartfelt projects like transporting food for the Richland-Wilkin Food Pantry, helping with a tax program at the Senior Center, and a Monday morning Men’s prayer group.  

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating his life was held on Mar. 19 at St. John’s Church in Wahpeton.