Douglas Campbell

Deacon Douglas C. Campbell, a cherished figure and a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2025, in Fargo, North Dakota. A visitation will be held in honor of Deacon Douglas at St. John's Catholic Church in Wahpeton, North Dakota, on March 18, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, followed by a Prayer Service commencing at 7:00 PM. A Mass celebrating his life will take place the next day, March 19, 2025, at the same location at 11:00 AM, concluding with a heartfelt gathering of all who loved him.

Doug was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, on February 15, 1942, to Carl and Freda (Mueller) Campbell. He graduated from Bismarck High School and went on to attend NDSU in Horticulture. There he met the love of his life, Mary Kathryn Breitbach, whom he wed on April 24, 1965, at St. Mary’s Church, rural Dazey, ND. They moved to St. Paul while Doug was attending the U of M. There the first child Carla was born. They lived for a short while in Osage, Iowa where they added daughter Kristine to the growing family. He returned his family to Fargo, ND to manage the Shotwell’s on the north side then moved to the Shotwell’s on the south side. Here they added a son, Mark, to the fold. He was involved in Nativity Church including singing in the choir. Then in 1977, he moved his family again when he bought a greenhouse in Breckenridge, MN, naming it Four Season Plant Center.

He was known in the tri-state area for his immense assortment of top quality bedding plants, Easter lilies, and incomparable poinsettias. He was the man to see for all things plant-related from flocked Christmas trees to disease control. He enlarged the greenhouse to 92,682 sq. ft. until the flood of ’97. His greenhouse days brought many cherished people into his life whether it was peers he mentored or employees who became like family. The size of his honorary family grew while working for Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative.  Throughout his life, he was committed to a job well done and taking pride in all he did. After retiring from Minn-Dak in 2012, he took a Pastoral Care position at St. Francis Medical Center until retiring again in 2018. This became his favorite job he EVER had, and if it wasn’t for the pesky modern technology he would have never wanted to leave.

He is a cherished member of St. John’s Church where he volunteered his time and efforts from singing in the choir to being on committees and being a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus. While working at Minn-Dak he studied for seven years to become a Deacon and was ordained on November 13, 2008.

Doug wrote, “My father taught me to be honest and work like the devil in speed, to toil from sun up to sun down.” He would work those hours to provide for his family while running a crew, planning the future, and singing his made-up ditties, then ending the day over a caramel roll at the Fryn’ Pan. A number of people influenced his work ethic and journey to become a devoted Catholic and Deacon, most notable was the cute Catholic girl named Mary Kathryn. Their ‘Meet cute’ started with a question to which he thought she’d say ‘no’; however her ‘yes’ turned into a lifelong journey lasting nearly 60 years still calling her his Bride.

He had a love for cars, especially his ’56 Packard, and could tell ‘endless’ stories about his college antics in this car. His love of singing led him to sing with the FM Barber Shop Society and the R-W Alphean Male Chorus. His love of dancing with Mary started in college. They have delighted many with their moves on the dance floor whether it was line dancing, Scandinavian folk dancing, or waltzing through every country at Epcot. Doug enjoyed traveling with his family to Jaycee Conventions, school and family reunions, Catholic Daughter conventions with his wife, and even to Jamaica to build a house. In recent years, he was most excited for the moments he shared camping and fishing with his wife and grandkids and a trip he took with his grandson to a Packard Club National Meet.

After retirement, he took on many heartfelt projects like transporting food for the Richland-Wilkin Food Pantry, helping with a tax program at the Senior Center, and a Monday morning Men’s prayer group. Who is to say what his proudest moments are, but we do know the moments people came up to him telling him stories of how he touched their lives with business, life, or spiritual advice are among the most dear.

Douglas is preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Freda; parents-in-law, Sylvester and Sophia (Jacobsen) Breitbach; a granddaughter, Sophia May; brother, Richard Campbell; brother-in-law, James Goecke; Brothers and sisters-in-law, Leslie & Phyllis Breitbach and Dwain & Phil Breitbach. He leaves behind his wife Mary Kathryn, of almost 60 years; children, Carla (Chris) Giauque, Kristine Birouk, Mark Campbell, and selected daughter Candace Hartlieb; his grandchildren Amanda and Nicholas Giauque; and siblings, Sheila Goecke, William (Bonnie-Jeanne) Campbell, and Dr. Robert Campbell; sister-in-law, Donna Campbell; and many other cherished relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Richland-Wilkin Food Pantry or a food pantry of your choice.