Stephen Bruce Campbell, son of Charles Clair and Mary Evelyn Campbell was born March 15, 1944 in Cloud County. He crossed Heaven’s Golden Finish Line at 3:00 P.M. on Good Friday, April 10, 2020. Bruce was one of seven children, the youngest of four boys. His parents named him “Stephen” because of his mother’s love of the Bible.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Neil and Kent; sisters, Gale Smith and Marcille Cox. Survivors are his wife of 54 plus years, Darlene (Mercer) Campbell; daughters Rochelle (Jeff) White of Hutchinson and Denise (Mark) Brown of Olathe; brother, Kermit of Traverse City, MI; and sister, Chris (Dean) Allison of Delphos; grandchildren Bethany (Kelly) Bush of Olathe, Spenser (Billie) White of Bartlesville, OK, Whitney White of Hutchinson, Andrew Brown of Olathe, Vlad, Dominic, Preston, and Cameron White of Hutchinson; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Bruce learned his ethics of hard work, fondness of the land, and his love of horses from his father. He discovered his love for poetry and literature at his mother’s knee.
Bruce graduated from Miltonvale High School in 1962, and then he attended Miltonvale Wesleyan College and Friends University. Bruce was a dedicated athlete whose motto was “Winners give it all they’ve got BUT champions give it more!” At Miltonvale he lettered in football, basketball, and track (setting many records). Bruce was inducted into the Friends University Sports Hall of Fame as a prestigious 4-Sport Letterman: football, basketball, cross country and track (also setting records).
In college, Bruce met and married the love of his life, Darlene Mercer, a “cowgirl” from the Kansas Flint Hills. Bruce taught and coached in White City for three years and then at Delphos/Minneapolis until 1980. Bruce coached several state track winners and successful football and basketball programs. While teaching Drivers Education, Bruce rode with over 800 freshmen. He listened to and shared with his young drivers about their concerns and joys. His students trusted him! Bruce loved laughter, ever ready with a joke or humorous story, a highlight of those long drives.
After leaving education, Bruce pursued his dream of auctioneering and appraising. The Campbells, with Leland and Sharon Johnson, owned Bid-N-Buy Auctions and Realty for 31 years. Bruce wore other “hats” during his life: farmer, New York Life Agent, horse trainer, EMT, city council, and Lions Club. He wrote weekly articles for the Delphos Republican and the Miltonvale Record and recorded guest spots on KNCK radio. Bruce composed poetry; he loved to work with rhyme and meter.
Bruce never forgot his “first love” – the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He lived his life as a man of God sharing with his students as he lived before them. Serving God was paramount to Bruce – in the church, school, community or everyday life. When he was 40, Bruce began to read the Bible through each and every year. He was a faithful member of Hall Wesleyan Church, serving also on the Kansas Wesleyan District Board of Administration. Bruce and Darlene loved taking people to church – the Campbell “bus” was often filled with neighbors, children, or new town people. It was a joy for them to attend church and share that joy with others. Bruce’s life can be summarized as Paul wrote in II Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
Due to recent restrictions concerning COVID-19, the family will hold private graveside services at the Delphos Cemetery. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. The family kindly requests no flowers and asks for memorials to be made to the Hall Wesleyan Church, Gideons International, or the Morrison House and may be mailed to Wilson Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 166, Minneapolis, KS 67467.