Billie Blaine Campbell

Billie Blaine Campbell was born to Ruth and Arlis Campbell on July 27, 1928. Living on a farm southwest of Beloit, he attended Roundtop country school through 8th grade, and graduated from BHS. At Fort Hays State, he studied math and physical education, and was on the football and track team, excelling in javelin competitions. There he met his future wife, Lola Young, and they married in 1950. After Lola graduated, they lived together in Concordia for several years, as Bill started his math teaching career at the junior high school there.

During all of his teaching life, Bill also was a farmer. At first during summers off from teaching he helped his father on the farm, but slowly he and Lola acquired their own farmland and farmed for themselves as well.

After several years in Concordia, Bill and Lola moved back to Beloit, where Bill began teaching at the high school. Many people in the area remember sitting in an algebra, calculus or trig class with him at the blackboard.

When Bill had free time, which was not often, you could find him either sitting in a goose blind or at a golf course. Painting was another hobby that he developed as an adult after taking art classes with Lola.

After retirement at the age of 60, Bill found that he missed being in the classroom, and he immediately started as a substitute, continuing into his 70's.

Bill and Lola moved into Long Term Care at the hospital in 2009 after Lola suffered a major heart attack. At this time Bill was already showing signs of the dementia that robbed him of his short-term and long-term memory. Before long, he was unable to golf or hunt, and life lost some of its pleasure. Then in 2014, when Lola died, he was without his anchor. After that time, Bill's pleasure in life came from visits from his children, teasing from the staff, and eating sweets whenever he could. Amazingly, despite an almost complete loss of memories, he was still able to understand life around him and to make witty jokes at a moment's notice.

Bill was predeceased by his parents, his sister Dora, his brother Stan, and his wife, Lola. He is survived by Christine Campbell; Carol Thompson, Carol's husband Bob and son Jesse; and son Tim Campbell, along with his wife Debbie, son Connor and daughter Danielle.

The family wants to thank the staff of Long-Term-Care for his excellent care for so many years, and the friends that came to visit and did things for him while he lived there.

There will be a Celebration of Life ceremony in the Fellowship Hall at the United Methodist church in Beloit, Wednesday August 8th at 2:00 pm.

If you feel so moved, please share with us an anecdote or memory you have of Bill. He would wish you to be relaxed here today, to laugh, and to eat as much ice cream as you so desire! That's what he would do!

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Bill's name to the USD 273 Education Foundation