Barbara Campbell, 93

Barbara Landon Campbell was born May 17, 1933, in San Francisco, Calif., and passed away in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on July 11, 2026. She was 93. Barbara grew up in Glendora, Calif., attended Pomona College and received her degree in education in 1955. She met the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Campbell, in college, and they married Dec. 27, 1955. Bob and Barbara moved to Germany, where they lived for four years as Bob proudly served his country as a hospital administrator at the Army Hospital in Frankfurt. Their first child, Kari, arrived in November 1959, followed by their son, Scott, in November 1961.    

After Germany, Barb and Bob made their home in Woodland Hills, Calif. Barbara became a first-grade teacher in Chatsworth in 1963 and continued teaching until her move to Mammoth Lakes, Calif., in 1974. Barbara grew up as a Girl Scout starting in the first grade. She represented the U.S. at the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) World Conference held in Dombås, Norway, in 1952. Barbara decided to carry on her involvement with the Girl Scouts by becoming a troop leader of a senior troop in 1961. For the next 13 years, she mentored hundreds of high school girls. Her troop was called Alta Sierra Troop 1153, and they were known as a trailblazing troop. Every summer, her troop could be found backpacking the Sierra Nevada mountains, touring Canada and even parts of Europe. Today, many of these same Girl Scouts still gather every two years to sing songs and share memories.  

In 1967, they built a vacation home in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. The Campbells were a family of skiers that loved the outdoors. In 1974, the decision was made to leave the concrete jungle of Los Angeles and permanently make the High Sierra their home. Although Barbara returned to Pomona College in 1975 to receive her master’s in music, she quickly became a prominent local community leader. She taught music at Mammoth High School and wrote the school’s fight song. She started the Sierra Summer Music Festival, which ran for 35 years and brought classical, rock and folk music to the High Sierras every summer. She composed a musical entitled “ISHI” and brought the Felici Trio to the community permanently. When the town of Mammoth Lakes decided to become incorporated in 1978, Barbara was elected as a founding member of the Town Council. 

During the winter months, Barbara could be found volunteering at the Mammoth Mountain Race Dept. Most weekends were spent on the mountain, officiating ski races. In 1984, Barbara was asked to be a technical official at the World Alpine Skiing Championship in Vail, Colorado. She was a founding member of the Mammoth Ski Education Foundation, which today is known as the Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation. In 1989, she was involved with the formation of the Mammoth Lakes Foundation alongside the late Dave McCoy. Besides her love for skiing, her volunteering on the mountain led to years of free skiing for the family. Barbara continued skiing until she was 85.

In 2000, Barbara and Bob had to leave the high altitude of Mammoth and bought a property overlooking Hayden Lake, Idaho. Barbara designed their forever home from the ground up, and today it is still enjoyed by the family. Like Mammoth, once Barbara arrived in Hayden, she quickly became immersed in the community. She joined St. Luke Episcopal Church, singing in their choir and playing the organ whenever called upon. Her love for music went beyond the church. She was a proud member of the 3C’s Coeur d’Aleers and a financial contributor to both the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestras.  

Samoyed dogs became an important part of Barbara’s life in 1978. She traveled to hundreds of dog shows throughout Western North America and proudly raised as many as five U.S. and Canadian Grand Champions over the years. Her Samoyeds participated in everything from dog shows to agility competitions, sled pulls and as support dogs when visiting local memory care facilities here in Coeur d'Alene. She was a member of Coeur d'Alene Dog Fanciers Club and the Samoyed Club of America. One of her Samoyeds was even featured as a model in Vogel magazine.   

Barbara is survived by her children, Kari Hoffman (Spouse: Fred) and Scott Campbell (Spouse: Karen); grandchildren: Marc Hoffman, Sarah Hoffman, Trent Hoffman, Ryan Campbell, Brian Nieckula, Kaitlin Turpin, and Austin Duarte; great-grandchildren: Calvin Hoffman Sammons, Noah Hoffman, Lainey Campbell, Poppy Nieckula, Juniper Nieckula, and Ezra Nieckula. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Campbell, and close friend Fred Meyers.

Services will be held Oct. 3, 2026, at 2 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 501 E. Wallace Ave, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

    Campbell