Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many, Helen Elizabeth (Ostman) Campbell passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, July 7, 2017, just one month and two days shy of her 100th birthday. Born Aug. 9, 1917, to Swedish immigrant parents, Peter and Freda Ostman, Helen was a life-long resident of Raymond, Wash. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Glenn Campbell, her parents, and her brother, Pete Ostman. On both sides of her family, Helen was the last living member of her generation. She is survived by her three children; Karen Bogar (Richard), of Hoquiam, Wash.; Aileen Powell of Blaine, Wash.; and John Campbell of Vancouver, Wash.; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Helen was a remarkable person, intelligent and capable. When she put her mind to it, there was nothing she could not accomplish. At age 75, to stay mentally active, she learned to play bridge, a game she enjoyed and played until one week before her death. At age 90, to stay physically active, she had two hip replacement surgeries within seven months of each other. During her long-lived life, Helen remained independent and strong-willed, traits that kept her actively engaged in living.
Helen graduated from Raymond High School in 1934 and married Glenn Campbell on Dec. 29, 1935. Together they raised their three children at the family home on Gerber Hill in Raymond. Helen was a wonderful mother, tough when she had to be, caring and giving always. When her children were young, she was a busy stay-at-home mom but when her youngest child entered high school, she went to work for C.A. Graves Accounting as a bookkeeper, a position she held for ten years.
During retirement, Helen and Glenn were “snow birds” and traveled extensively throughout the U.S. in their “two-bit camper”. After her husband passed, Helen continued her travels and was also an active volunteer for her church and community organizations that helped make Raymond a better place to live, Always generous, Helen frequently offered a helping hand to those in need. For over 60 years, she sponsored dozens of children, world-wide, through Care for the Child and World Vision. Her generosity also extended to stray cats who seemed to know they should stop and stay at Helen’s house.
Helen loved her family and her family loved her dearly. Words cannot express how greatly she will be missed. She was truly “one of a kind”! Mom, you’re still going to celebrate your 100th birthday but there’s been a change of venue. It’s going to be in Heaven.
Helen’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 29, at the Raymond First Baptist Church, 913 Duryea St., starting time 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to Sunday Afternoon Live, P.O. Box 41, South Bend, WA 98586 and Harbor Association of Volunteers for Animals (H.A.V.A.) P.O. Box 243, Raymond, WA 98577.
