Curtis C. Campbell Sr. — Red Wing

RED WING — The funeral for Curtis C. Campbell Sr. 74, will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Prairie Island Community Center, with Daniel Seaboy Sr. officiating. There will be a private family burial.

Mr. Campbell, “Wakiyan Zisapa,” which means “Black Lightning,” died Sunday (April 12, 2009) at his residence in Welch.

Curtis Conrad Campbell was born April 2, 1935, in Red Wing, to James and Ida (Wells) Campbell Sr. He was a graduate of Red Wing Central High School and attended Brigham Young University. He worked at various construction jobs in Red Wing and the Twin Cities area, and at Smeads in Hastings, Minn. He served on the Prairie Island Tribal Council, was general manager of Treasure Island Casino, and served on the Gaming Commission, the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, and 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 Minnesota State University, Mankato, with archeological facts.

Survivors include his children, Audrey (Dennis) Bennett, Calvin Campbell, Delrey Smith, Gerald Black Tail Deer and Bridget Saice-Childs, all of Prairie Island; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a sister, Valdean Campbell of Sisseton, S.D.; a brother, James “Bunny” Campbell Jr. of Sisseton; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three children, Julie Red Cloud Campbell, Rebecca Childs and Curtis Campbell Jr.; a grandson, Benjamin Bennett Sr.; and a brother, Norman Campbell.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. today until the time of the service Thursday at the community center.

Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel of Red Wing is handling arrangements.