Joan F. (Truelson) Campbell, 84, Emily, MN, formerly of Valley City, ND, passed away at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Brainerd, on July 29, 2021. The funeral will be held on Tuesday, August 10th, 2021, 2 pm, at Epworth United Methodist Church, Valley City, ND. The service will be live streamed and archived along with Joan’s obituary and online guestbook at www.lerudschuldt.com.
Joan Floy Davis was born to Lloyd and Nina (Gronlund) Davis on May 11, 1937, at Frederick, Wisconsin. She moved with her family to Minneapolis, then to New Brighton, MN, and graduated from Moundsview High School in 1955. She went to college at Minnesota School of Business.
Joan worked as a PBX Telephone Operator and at Red Owl, where she met Wally Truelson. They married in 1961 and had two children, Timothy, and Renee, residing in Minneapolis.
They moved to Fargo where Joan was a homemaker, foster parent and began volunteering at Model Cities Program. In 1969, she became the Social Service Coordinator for Model Cities identifying the needs of senior citizens programs. From 1972 to 1975, she was the director of the Senior Adult Service to the Fargo Senior Commission on Aging.
Joan and her children moved to Valley City in 1975 where she began as the coordinator for the Barnes County Senior Citizens Council, headquartered at Mythaler Hall, VCSU.
This launched her 32-year career of helping the elderly and she loved every aspect of it. She expanded the program to South Central Human Services which included six counties: Barnes, Foster, Griggs, LaMoure, Logan and McIntosh. In 1983, the Senior Center was moved into one location in Valley City, where it remains today. In 1991, Mrs. Campbell received the Civic Service Award from Board Member, Bernie Wagner, for her concern and commitment to the elderly. She served two terms as the state-wide Project Directors Association. Joan received the Advocacy Excellence Award given annually by the Fargo Office of Legal Assistance of ND for her work with North Dakota seniors. She also managed the Barnes County Food Pantry and served on many advisory boards, the most recent Bridgeview Estates, an assisted living facility in Valley City.
Joan met James Campbell at a Parents-Without-Partners group and on Feb 3rd, 1979, married him, inherited five more children, and moved to the farm located southwest of Sanborn. They lived there for 13 years, until they sold the farm to son, Tom Campbell, and moved to Valley City.
Mrs. Campbell retired in 2007 and began building her dream home on South Turtle Lake, Underwood, MN, completing it in July 2008. Jim didn’t see the finished house as he passed away January 2008.
In 2011, Joan’s daughter Renee moved in with her, both living the dream of lake life. Together they spent winters in Texas, Arizona, and Mexico. In 2017, they moved to Lake Emily, Emily, MN, continuing being snowbirds.
Joan had a deep spiritual faith that she carried with her to the end of her life. In retirement, she spent mornings with her Bible and her Lord, conversing and praying for her family, friends, and mankind. She shared her faith with her family, friends and by example in her daily life. She was always welcoming and dearly loved her children, grandchildren, their spouses, and friends.
Joan is survived by her children, Tim Truelson, Renee Truelson, Lynn (Jeff) Altizer, Deb Hovland, Tom (Jackie) Campbell, Liz (Dennis) Fick, Bill (Tina) Campbell. Grandchildren Lexie Truelson, Connor Truelson, Katherine Altizer, Megan (Keaton) Meinel, Matthew (Nikki) Hovland, Allison Hovland, LaTina (Marcus) Rondestvedt, LaRissa (Tim) Burner, Samantha (Casey) Formaneck, Denise (Chris) Erlandson, Abbey (Justin) Quandt, and Cassandra (Mike) Werlinger, and 15 great grandchildren. Sister and husband Ken and Donna Durr, sister-in-law, Bonita Davis, and nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death is her husband, James Campbell, her brother Lloyd Davis, and son-in-law, Owen Hovland.
She will be laid to rest by her husband at Fairview Cemetery, rural Sanborn, ND.
Sympathy cards can be mailed to Renee Truelson, PO Box 132, Emily, MN. The family requests memorials be given to the South Central Senior Services, c/o Pat Hansen, PO Box 298, Valley City, ND 58072, or to a non-profit organization of your choice.
“We do not grieve for where she is; we grieve for where she is not.”
Lerud Mathias Funeral Home in Valley City is assisting Joan’s family with arrangements.