June S. Campbell (1924-2008)

CAMPBELL

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 10/13/2008 at 14:43:18

June Shirley Campbell, "Happy Valley June," age 84, passed away on Wednesday, October 8, 2008.

June was residing at Providence Seaside Hospital Extended Care Unit, in Seaside, Ore., where she was being treated for Parkinson's disease. June was born in Osmond, Neb., on June 5, 1924, to Kernal Lewis and Wanda Bomer. June spent most of her youth in the Glenwood, Iowa community with her three sisters, Norma, Larue, and Amber. June is known to many by her radio name "Happy Valley June." Beginning at the age 16, June performed on KFNF's Barn Dance and other popular radio programs. This began a lifelong love for performing music. Her last major performances celebrated the era of live radio. At 76, she played and was honored on the same stage where Mozart performed in Vienna, Austria.

On December 10, 1942 she was married to Gerald (Jerry) Campbell, in Glenwood. Jerry had originally written a fan letter to "Happy Valley June" to begin this relationship that spanned 56 years until Jerry's death in 1998. Jerry also loved music and they became known as "Happy Valley June and Fiddle'n Jerry." They were both inducted into the Old Time Music Hall of Fame. During WWII June served at the Martin Bomber Plant, in Bellevue, Neb., while Jerry was a soldier in the U.S. Army. June moved to Seaside, in 2004, where she was a resident of Suzanne Elise Assisted Living due to support needs related to Parkinson's disease. June was known to all for her contagious humor, incredible memory of songs, and her zest for life. June will join Jerry at rest in the Waubonsie Cemetery, in Glenwood.

June is survived by three sons and her daughters-in-law, James and Janis, of Canby, Ore.; Terry and Kim, of Seaside; and Thomas and Mary, of Hendersonville, Tenn. June instilled in her sons the concepts of honesty, independence and self reliance. Her love for her sons was evident throughout her life. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Memorial services are being planned and will be held at Peterson's Mortuary, in Glenwood. Memorials may be sent to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, www.michaeljfox . org.