William "Bill" Campbell Jr.

Bill Campbell, 76, went home to Jesus on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 21, 2020. Bill was born to William Joseph Campbell, Sr. and Josephine (née Behling) Campbell on June 16, 1944, in El Cajon, California, as a military child. He lived in several states and abroad, including North Carolina, Florida, California, and China. Bill showed a great love of food at an early age and began baking at 8 years old. He baked cakes for family events and outings. He was an avid reader and young scientist. He attended a seminary high school where he initially studied to become a priest. Here, he was introduced to skills that he would use throughout his lifetime, including beekeeping, gardening, and meat cutting. As a young adult, he worked tirelessly in the restaurant industry, already demonstrating a remarkable work ethic during 16-hour shifts. At Berkley University he studied chocolatery where he experimented in making a novel chocolate without using cocoa butter. Bill married Mary “Mimi” Ryan on February 5, 1965, and soon thereafter experienced the joys of fatherhood. Bill and Mimi had 4 children, Catherine, Jane, Joseph III, and Ryan. They also adopted 3 siblings, Patricia, David and Caroline. The “Campbell Clan” was a familiar sight in Darby, MT where they owned their Tin Cup Road farm and were active in the school and church community. He was known for his booming tenor voice as he sang hymns Sunday in church. Bill and Mimi reared their exuberant band of children who frequently raided the brimming root cellar filled with home-grown produce and dried goods. Bill’s beef jerky was a favorite. Bill and Mimi also maintained an assemblage of livestock and prolific garden and beehive boxes. Together they crafted elderberry wine, home-made ice cream, and apple cider. Bill’s grilled chicken on Sunday evenings followed by ice cream sundaes was a family tradition. He continued to use his active, curious mind throughout 30-years in telecommunications with RCA/Mitel, where he worked on large-scale telephone systems. He was known in Conrad for his superb baked goods, especially cheesecake and apple pie, at the restaurant he ran with his son, Joe, and his dedicated involvement in his church community at Conrad Mission Church. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Bill Sr. and Josephine Campbell; brother, James “Jim” Campbell; and his infant son, Ryan in 1981. He is survived by his Mimi, daughters, Patricia (Patty), Catherine, Caroline and Jane; sons, David and Joseph “Joe” III; and a multitude of grateful, grandchildren. Services will be held at Conrad Mission Church on Friday, July 10, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. and his ashes will be inurned in the Darby Montana cemetery on July 12, 2020, during a private family ceremony.