Luella Alvina Kasten

Luella A. Kasten, age 97, of Belview, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, July 26, 2013 at the Parkview Nursing Home in Belview, MN. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at Peace Lutheran Church in Echo, MN. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at the church with a prayer service at 7pm on Tuesday. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Burial will be in the Echo City Cemetery. Online condolences may be placed at www.sunsetfuneralassociation.com. The Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association is caring for the family. The Life of Luella Alvina Fischer Kasten – as written by her February 25, 2011. Luella was the oldest daughter of Andy and Ella (Zimmer) Fischer and was born October 6, 1915 on a farm south of Echo, MN. She was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Echo on October 31, 1915. Luella moved North with her parents and began school near Deer Creek in 1921 and they later moved back to the Wood Lake area. She graduated from 8th grade with over a hundred 8th grade students from Yellow Medicine County at the Clarkfield School on August 2, 1929. Luella was confirmed on April 13, 1930 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wood Lake. They later moved to the Vesta area. Luella married her best friend, Hilbert Kasten on May 22, 1934 at St. John’s Lutheran Parsonage by Reverend Brickman. They began their married life together living and farming west of Belview. To this union five children were born. They lived in the Echo and Belview areas through their 70 years of marriage. In 1962 they had a farm auction and bought a house and acreage in SW Echo. So they began a new career off the farm. Luella loved to cook and bake so she cooked at the Hurry Back Inn Café and the Echo Public School and managed the Prairie Wind Café for a couple of years. She also worked for DeKalb Seed Company in Redwood Falls and dietary aid for Parkview Home in Belview. Luella retired in November 1984 but continued to volunteer where she could. Luella and Hilbert did some traveling on tours and with their children. In 1993 they sold their home and moved to Westwood Apartments in Echo. January 19, 2002 they moved into Parkwood Assisted Living in Belview. Luella and Hilbert celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on May 22, 2004 with family and on June 28, 2004, Hilbert passed away. Luella continued to be active making quilts, embroidery, and helping others. Luella is survived by her children, Duane (Donna) of Springfield, Dennis (Lorraine) of Redwood Falls, Janet Anderson (Carlyle) of Belview, Marilyn Tietz (Arnie) of Kasson, and Irene Abrahamson (Steve Griffin) of Prior Lake; 16 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great-grandchildren; brother, Darles Fischer; extended family, Bob and Jacob Abrahamson, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Luella was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Hilbert, of 70 years, parents, Andy and Ella, sisters, Agnes Jensen, Bernice Kolander, Evelyn Fischer, Darlene Fischer, and great-grandson, Jordan Baune.