Lillian Campbell “Diamond Lil”
October 19, 1938 - November 20, 2024
It is with great sadness that the family of Lillian Campbell announce her passing.
Lillian Campbell, 86, of Salt Lake City, passed away November 20, 2024. Lillian was born October 19, 1938 to Lillian Martha Buschman and Iver Valentine Stromberg in Salt Lake City, Utah. She grew up on the west side, in Rose Park, and spent most of her life there. Lil attended West High School.
She met Rex Lamar Mackay and they were married on February 18, 1956. They had two daughters; Rexanne and Sandra (Sam). Rex died unexpectedly on December 4, 1960.
May 3, 1969 Lil married G. Garth Campbell and together they founded Diamond Lil’s Restaurant on North Temple in Salt Lake City. For the next 30+ years she was “Diamond Lil” working and greeting customers who came from all over to enjoy the excellent food and fun “old west” atmosphere. She was known to most people as “Diamond Lil” as a result.
Lil and Garth later divorced.
It was later when Lil met Mike Wilde who was “the love of [her] life” for 25 years until his passing.
She was an active league bowler and avid golfer for most of her life.
From her youth Lil loved to talk and was a great storyteller. Her kids and grandkids have many fond memories of her (often hilarious) escapades. Listening to Lil converse with her older sister Maxine was reminiscent of famous Abbott & Costello “Who’s on First” routine. It’s difficult to think of Lil without picturing her smile and hearing her laugh.
Her family (including her little dog “Sunny”) meant everything to her. We all knew that we were truly loved. She is preceded in death by her parents and two siblings Maxine Dahn and Robert Stromberg.
She leaves behind her heartbroken family; her daughters Rexanne (Hank) and Sandra (Jack), 5 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
Services will be held on Tuesday November 26, 2024 at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 S 900 E, Millcreek. Visitation from 10:00-11:00 by a brief memorial service. Interment immediately following at Salt Lake Cemetery.
The family would like to offer a special thanks to Lil’s hospice team and especially her hospice nurse Rebekah Anderson. They truly made a difference in the final weeks of her life.
In Loving Memory
I absolutely loved Lil!! It saddens me to learn of her passing. 😔 I enjoyed all the time that I spent working with her at Diamond Lil’s. She was always quite the character when I would try to teach her something new on the computer. She was very fun to work with and just be around. I’m sure her family is missing her deeply. She was a wonderful person.
Gina Funaro
Tooele, Ut
Rexanne & Sam I am so sorry to hear of your mother's passing she was so fun to work with and be neighbors for all of those years. The neighborhood was a lot of fun through the years. Her and my mom had great times together now they are together again
Frances & Doug Patton
Salt Lake City, UT