Elda Pearl Miller Castle

Visitation is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at O'Connor Funeral Home. Her funeral is 10 a.m. Saturday at O'Connor Memorial Chapel, with burial in Highland Cemetery. A reception will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church after the burial.

Elda was born April 22, 1916, in Wilmot, S.D., to Nathan and Anna Marie (Christianson) Miller. She was the youngest of eight children. When she was 10, they moved to Mohal, N.D., where she attended school. She graduated in 1934. The family moved to Fort Peck and her father was a carpenter on the Fort Peck Dam. That is where she met her future husband, Alfred Castle, and they were married Oct. 17, 1936, in Fort Peck, Mont. They moved to Great Falls in 1939.

Elda was a homemaker, and she and Alfred ranched near Fort Shaw from 1960 until 1973. When Al retired, they traveled all the states in their motorhome. When she lost her husband to cancer in 1984, Elda continued traveling on her own. She toured Europe, went on a 10-day cruise and spent most days traveling to another card party. She taught many people how to play pinochle and would play any card game for hours. She also enjoyed knitting, swimming, water-skiing, bingo and playing Texas Hold'em. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and would just light up when they came to visit.

Elda was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, RSVP, Scandinavian Club, Just a Mere Club, Sun River Valley Senior Center and Ramblin' Sam Club. She volunteered many hours at the gift shop at Benefis Health System.

Survivors include her sons Dennis (Pat) Castle of Great Falls, Delwyn (Holly) Castle of Tucson, Ariz., and David (Karen) Castle of Fort Shaw; 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband Alfred, she was preceded in death by sons Dale (Arlee) Castle and Daniel Castle (infant).

Condolences may be posted online at www.oconnorfuneralhome.com