“Good for Your Soul”
Words and music by Leslie Speirs
with Mrs. Schnabel’s 5th Grade Class
©2025 Leslie Speirs
(Verse 1)
A Kind and gentle lady came to tell us of her story. It started in the country in the fifties. In South Dakota. Her Father was a farmer who would whistle while he worked. “Every day’s a new day!”, he would say. Her mother was an artist, seeing beauty everywhere, tending home and family day by day. She recalled her happy childhood, roller skating near Lake Campbell, and funny Grandpa Julius roasting pickles on a stick! She followed rules and liked to swim, excelled at spelling bees, and 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Bickett was her favorite pick.
She loved to play her flute in the band! Then, after graduation, it was college at Augustan. So, we asked her what she’d learned, and this is what she said:
(Chorus)
Gratitude for everything big and small helps us when we’re sad and helps us when we fall.
Never be afraid to try something new. Each of us has things we love and gifts that we can use.
Listen to your heart. Know what you like. Make it your goal and when we help others it’s good for our soul. Spend time helping others. It’s good for your soul! (Whistle)
(Verse 2)
High School teaching filled her years up, in Sioux Falls and Iowa. Was told she’d made a difference in kids’ lives.
Volunteering time with old folks eased her grief and heavy sadness, that lingered when her grandparents died.
Reminiscing ‘bout her favorite lifetime job of lady deacon, for twenty-nine years she loved it at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.
She told us of her job to help the church in work and service. All people have a gift… she’d assist them in their search.
She loves to be in nature, loves the land. Delighting in her travels, many more she’d love to have! So she asked us what we’d learned, and this is what she said:
(Chorus)
Gratitude for everything big and small helps us when we’re sad and helps us when we fall.
Never be afraid to try something new. Each of us has things we love and gifts that we can use.
Listen to your heart. Know what you like. Make it your goal and when we help others it’s good for our soul. Spend time helping others. It’s good for your soul! (Whistle)
Laura Lee Campbell was born on January 31st, 1955, in Madison, South Dakota. She is the oldest of four siblings- two brothers and one sister.
She was raised on a dairy and grain farm where life was simple, but it was filled with love, purpose, and faith. Her father, Duane, a hardworking farmer, whistled his way to work believing every day deserved a fresh start. Her mother, a homemaker and artist, had a gift for finding beauty in ordinary things. Both of her parents were deeply involved in their church and community, and they raised Laura with the same commitment to kindness, service, and doing what’s right.
As a child, Laura spent countless joyful hours roller skating at the rink by Lake Campbell, where open windows let in the summer breeze as she glided across the floor. In school, she was a proud rule follower, but that didn’t stop her from earning the nickname “Tweety Bird” because she loved to talk- though it was usually her friends who got in trouble for it! She didn’t have the opportunity to play sports- girls weren’t allowed to back then- but if she could have, she knows she would’ve joined the swim team.
Instead, Laura turned to music. She played the flute in the school band, loved marching band, and also played the piano. Her favorite teacher was her fourth-grade teacher, who made learning fun and brought joy to classroom- something Laura would carry into her own teaching career.
After graduating from high school in 1973, Laura attended Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She went on to teach high school in Iowa and later taught at Southeast Tech for eight years.
Though she enjoyed these roles, her favorite job of all was serving as the Deacon at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, a role she held for an incredible 29 years. Her work in ministry combined everything she loved- faith, service, and connection with others.
Laura was especially close to her grandparents, who had always lived nearby and meant the world to her. Their passing left a deep void in her life, one she began to fill by working with older adults in her church and community. It was a way to continue honoring their memory while living out her values of compassion and care.
Laura lived in Mexico for a year, learning the language, experiencing the culture, and finding joy in meeting new people. That experience sparked a lifelong love of travel, leading her to places like Guatemala, Norway, and Alaska. Still, some of her most treasured memories are closer to home- like peaceful days at a cabin by Lake Thompson.
She’s lived many places over the years, but for the past 31 years, Laura has made her home in Spearfish, South Dakota. It’s a place where her roots have deepened and her legacy continues to grow. Over the years, Laura has touched countless lives through her work in education, ministry, and community service.
One moment she’ll never forget, came when a quiet student wrote a heartfelt poem expressing how Laura had changed her life. It was a reminder that sometimes, we make the biggest difference when we least expect it. Her wisdom is simple but powerful: Each one of you- kids and adults alike- has a gift and a talent that can be used for good. Don’t be afraid to try something new.” “Listen to your heart. Know what you enjoy, and let that guide you.”
Laura Lee Campbell’s life is a beautiful example of quiet strength, lifelong learning, and unwavering love. Whether through a kind word, a listening ear, or years of faithful service, she has left a lasting mark on everyone lucky enough to know her.