Curtis Campbell

Curtis Conrad Campbell, Sr., "Wakiyan Zisapa" which means Black Lightning, 74, Welch, died Sunday, April 12, 2009 at his residence. He was born April 2, 1935 in Red Wing, the son of James and Ida (Wells) Campbell, Sr. He was a graduate of Red Wing Central High School and attended Brigham Young University. He played semi-pro baseball for a short time. He worked at various construction jobs in Red Wing and the Twin Cities area and at Smeads in Hastings. He served on the Prairie Island Tribal Council, as general manager of Treasure Island Casino, the Gaming Commission, the National Eagle Center in Wabasha and on the Red Wing School Board. He was currently working on preserving the Native American Language, he authored a number of books and was assisting students from Mankato State University with archeological facts. His family remembers how important it was to preserve their cultural and ceremonial traditions.

Survivors include his children; Audrey (Dennis) Bennett, Calvin Campbell, Delrey Smith, Gerald Black Tail Deer and Bridget Saice-Childs, all of Prairie Island; one sister, Valdean Campbell of Sisseton, SD; one brother, James "Bunny" Campbell, Jr. of Sisseton, SD. He was preceded in death by three children: Julie Red Cloud Campbell, Rebecca Childs, Curtis Campbell, Jr.; one grandson, Benjamin Bennett, Sr. and one brother, Norman Campbell

Funeral will be at 1 p. m. Thursday, April 16, 2009 at Prairie Island Community Center with Daniel Seaboy, Sr. officiating. There will be a private family burial. Pallbearers will be Kevin Whitebear, Art White, Wayne Wells, John Wells, Don "Ducky" Whitebear and Saiki Leoso. Honorary pallbearers will be all his relatives and "Kodas". Visitation will be from 4 p. m. Tuesday until the time of the service on Thursday at the Community Center. Funeral arrangements are by the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel.