Luella Mae Kastella, 85, of Lake City, Minnesota passed away on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Gundersen St. Elizabeths Care Center in Wabasha, Minnesota. Luella was born on May 30, 1939, in Whitefish, Montana to Frederick and Evelyn (Ferris) Stanard. She attended school in Whitefish, graduating from Whitefish High School in 1957 and then attended Eastern Montana College of Education obtaining her teaching degree. On August 29, 1959, she married Donald Kastella in Whitefish.

After marriage the couple lived in Montana, where Luella taught first - sixth grade in the Country School at Maudlow, Montana the site of the film "The River Runs Through It". In 1962 they moved to San Jose, California, and in 1967 they moved to Rochester, Minnesota. Luella volunteered at St. Mary's Gift Shop and was very active at Christmas Anonymous in Rochester. In 1998 they moved to Lake City, she was a member of the Bittersweet Garden Club in Lake City. She also loved to play Bridge, do needlepoint, and belonged to different book clubs.

Luella is survived by her loving husband of 65+ years, Donald Kastella of Lake City; two daughters, Deann Muehlbauer of Matteson, IL and Allison "Karen" (Gordon) Hansen of New Bern, NC; and a son Chris (Peggy) Kastella of Bozeman, MT; six grandchildren Rowan, Jacob, Rachael, Kelsey, Berit, and Christian; three great-grandchildren, Madyn, Mackenzy, and Ambrose; and an uncle, Bill Stanard.

The memorial service for Luella will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 30, at the Schleicher Funeral Homes, Lake City Chapel with Rev. Dr. Scott Fiege officiating. The burial will take place at a later date in Whitefish, Montana. Friends and family may visit one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on May 30. Memorials are preferred.