Norma Beatrice Campbell

Norma Beatrice Campbell (née: Ellard) passed away peacefully at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital on Saturday, August 22nd, 2026, following a brief illness.  Norma was born on August 1st, 1934 at Mortlach, Saskatchewan and was the youngest of 5 children born to Lawrence and Florence Ellard.  With the loss of her mother at a very young age, Norma became the very independent and strong person that we all got to know.  With the help from various housekeepers over the years and her older siblings, her dad was able to keep the family together.  Norma attended school at Elkhead, Kalamazoo, Mossbank, in Regina and graduated from Mortlach High School.  She worked in McKee’s store in Mortlach and as a telephone operator in Vancouver, BC for a short time before returning home.  

On November 14th, 1956 Norma married Joseph Campbell of the Sweetgrass District, southeast of Mortlach, and they made their home on the Nixon family farm.  Norma truly embraced her role as farm wife and mother and worked alongside Joe to build their future.  The family grew with the arrival of their three sons, who later became known as the “ABC Brothers”: Alexander Lawrence (1957), William Robert (1961), and Cameron Michael (1963).  They raised sheep for a time, tried their hands at back grounding and finishing cattle, and settled on a mixed farm with beef cows and grain.  

In February 1988 they embarked on a new adventure and spent two years living in Tanzania, East Africa and working with CIDA on the Hanang Wheat Project.  It was an experience that they both enjoyed and they have cherished the memories and the friendships made during that time.  The most memorable experience was probably December 1st, 1988 when Cam and Colleen were visiting, and they were robbed at spear point at the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater.  Those poor men were not ready for the resistance they met as Norma stood her ground to protect their belongings.  After Africa, Joe accepted a few short-term overseas assignments in China, Russia, and Slovakia.  Norma joined him when he went to Mongolia as an advisor on range management.  Norma also enjoyed helping Bill and Shauna by working in the office at Besant Campground for a number of years.  

When they returned from Africa in 1990, they made the move from the farm to Mortlach where they resided until 2011, at which time they moved to an apartment in Moose Jaw.  They decided that first apartment was not what they wanted and in June 2012 they moved to Crestview Apartments where they resided for 13 years.  They thought that Crestview was the best place to live and made many friends and participated in almost everything that happened there.  In August 2025 they moved to The Bentley, where Norma thoroughly enjoyed living for the last year and commented at times that they should have made the move a year earlier.  Joe and Norma also enjoyed 25 winters at Ocean Trails Resort in Parksville, BC.  

Norma had a green thumb and had a large vegetable garden, raspberry and strawberry patches, and beautiful flower beds to prove it.  She had the uncanny ability to turn what she thought was a meal for five into a feast for ten as Joe would bring extra people to the house for lunch without much warning.  The cake pan that she inherited from Joe’s mom, although dented and no longer a perfect rectangle, is renowned for the chocolate cakes that it produced that were enjoyed by many, and the grandkids all quickly realized that grandma’s chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies arrived in an ice cream pail with a painters tape label.  Norma’s solution to repairing almost anything was tape, with her preferred variety being duct tape.  

Over the years Norma had many interests which included painting, bowling, square dancing, golfing, camping, fishing, quilting, sewing, bridge, and cards.  

She was predeceased by her parents, Florence (1936) and Lorne (1958); brothers: Cameron (1943), Hugh (1956), and Cliff (2011); sister, Leila Duffin (2021); brothers-in-law, Bud Campbell (1971) and Robert Campbell (2018); sister-in-law, Ina Campbell (2005); and daughter-in-law, Merridy (2018).  Norma is survived by her husband of 70 years, Joe; their 3 sons, 11 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.  Her family was the focus of her life, and she was so proud of each and every one and often said that there wasn’t a dud in the bunch: Alex (Charlene) and his children – Bree (Curtis Andrew, children Jack & Charlotte), Ashton (Paul Irvine, son Lincoln), Kyle (Amanda, children Gracii, Davis, Bennett, Amara), Riley (Brittany, daughters Ruby & Aubrey), Bill (Shauna) and their children Chelsea (Aaron & her sons Cole & Sawyer), Britney (Jeff Wellborn and children, Layne, Tanner & Reegan), Brenna (children Blake & Jazmine), Cam (Colleen) and their children Jackson (Brooke and son Tate), Cody (Samantha and daughter Juniper); Matthew, and Shawn.  She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Evelyn Campbell; and many nieces and nephews who had a special place in Norma’s heart and to whom she opened her home many times over the years.  To them the Campbell farm was a safe place and felt like a second home.  

The family would like to thank Dr. Brabant and the staff at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital for their care over her final days.

A Celebration of Norma’s Life will be held on Friday, August 28th, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Moose Jaw Funeral Home with Pastor Marvin Seaborg officiating.  Those not able to attend may view the service by going to www.moosejawfuneralhome.com/webcast/.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Norma’s name may be made to a charity of one’s choice.  Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane.  Gary McDowell, Funeral Director 306-693-4550