Betty Jean Campbell, 81, of Hailey, Idaho, left this world on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, at 6:35 p.m. to go home and meet her Maker.
Betty was born Feb. 19, 1933, in Rochester, N.Y., to Frank and Mildred Valentine, their only child. She lived her early childhood years in New York, attending the Lutheran neighborhood church and local elementary and junior high school. Her father was a telephone installer and line repair service business owner. Her mother was a stay-at-home mom who kept the garden growing, the ironing kept up, and the meals from scratch done daily.
In the mid-1940s, her family left New York, and moved to the sunny coast of San Diego, Calif. Betty there attended the San Diego High School, graduating in June of 1951. She went on to work at “Convair,” located in the beauty of downtown San Diego, near the ocean, assembling jet parts for the military. And in 1953, a very attractive man with “those blue eyes” would always walk by her station. He would smile, or wave, or wink, or whistle until he had the courage to ask her out on their first date.
On June 4, 1954, she married Arnold G. Rustad in San Diego. They had two children, Laura Marie (and Paul) and Darrell Vernon (and Sandi). Years later to follow with grandchildren Ashley (and Josh), Cameron (and Erica), Taylor, Levi, Matt, Brandon (and Anne), Garrett (and Michelle) and Britany (and Luke). And later with great-granddaughters McKenzie, Jaidyn, Preston, Mason, Madison, Brooklyn, Tegan and Baby Gemma due to arrive Nov. 2, 2014.
Betty and Arnold divorced in 1970, which put this homemaker, like her mother, into a position of having to get a full-time “clock in and clock out” job. Her only experience being a stay-at-home mother qualified her for the full-time position at Grossmont Hospital in San Diego as a housekeeper. She worked hard and met so many wonderful people along this path.
She met and married Malcolm Campbell in 1976, traveling the country, Hawaii, Switzerland, Germany, France and Spain over the course of the next 10 years.
They did plenty of hiking, camping, bowling and her all-time favorite, baseball! Padres back then, but in later years it had to be the Red Sox. Her dad introduced her to the sport of baseball at 5 years old, her first of many games, the New York Yankees!
In 1986, Mac took Betty from San Diego to Bethlehem, N.H., for the next 14 years. After her retirement at 67, and a second upsetting divorce, Betty made the decision to relocate to Hailey, Idaho, to live near her daughter Lauri and husband Paul and grandchild.
During the next 14 years living in Hailey, Betty found her faith, strength, love and joy in her daily walk with our Lord and Savior, at the Valley of Peace Lutheran Church. She began attending lunches and weekly exercise classes at the Senior Connection, and enjoyed her socialization with the many residents in the River Street complex. She had many, many wonderful friendships beyond measure, whom were her extended riches in her time here. Their love and support was endless. Their devotion never stopped for Betty, no matter what may have been going on with her. She was always known as having such a big smile, a warm hug and laughter, wanting to serve others. She left a legacy of a loving heart, kindness, passion, courage, an inner fight, happiness, joy the love of God, and yes ... temper!
She is deeply missed by many and will be for years to come. We did not have the chance to tell each other goodbye, so until we meet again, we love you.
Betty is survived by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family would like to send our deepest thanks to Dr. Dan Fairman, the entire ER staff at St. Luke’s in Twin Falls, who all diligently fought non-stop for a continuance of 42 hours in loving care, to keep Betty with us ... thank you. But it was God’s will, not ours ... to take her home.
Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, at the Valley of Peace Lutheran Church, 704 Wintergreen, Hailey, ID 83333.
Friends may share a condolence, story, or photo and light a candle at www.woodriverchapel.com.
You never said I’m leaving
You never said goodbye,
You were gone before we knew it
And only God knows why.
A million times I’ll need you
A million times I’ll cry,
If love alone could have saved you
You never would have died.
In life I loved you dearly
In death I love you still,
In my heart I hold a place
That only you can fill.
