Janet Elise Campbell

Janet Elise Campbell was born June 10, 1927, in Ellensburg, WA to Edwin and Mathilda Nelson. She was the youngest of four sisters and grew up on a small 80-acre farm. Being a farm girl in those days meant collecting the chicken eggs, helping churn butter and running scared of the barnyard billy goat. She attended Dammon Grade School, just down the road, a two-room schoolhouse built in 1893 for $438 and still in use today.

Being the youngest sister by 11 years resulted in an unusual circumstance. Her eldest sister, Thelma, became a teacher at Dammon and Janet one of her students. Janet graduated from Ellensburg High School and went on to complete a degree in business at Washington State University. Her father, Edwin, was able to send all four of his daughters to college, the first of their generation to do so.

She met her husband, James Campbell, at a fraternity dance her senior year. He had recently left WSU to take over management of the family orchards in Tieton, WA, following the death of his father. He continued to court Janet when she returned to Ellensburg on college breaks. One favorite family tale was told of the night he drove through a snowstorm in his father’s Cadillac to take Janet out on Christmas break.

She continued to live the farm life in Tieton, raising two children, Craig James Campbell and Carol Campbell Von Stubbe, along with a few good dogs and cats. Janet also acted as ranch bookkeeper and payroll manager. With the kids off to college, she reentered the business world as Personnel Manager at St. Elizabeth Hospital.

Personally, she loved to travel the world and did so for many years with her husband, daughter and granddaughter. Cannon Beach, in particular, was a place she returned to often with good friends and family.

She is survived by her children, Craig and Carol, and granddaughter Kelsey Von Stubbe.

A private family graveside burial will be held in December. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to the Yakima Chapter of the Human Society or the Yakima Valley Museum.