Blanche M. Parks Kastella, 92, died Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007, at the Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes.
Her memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday at the First Presbyterian Church in Whitefish with Pastor Dan Davis officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the service. A graveside service will be held Whitefish Cemetery at 1 p.m. Blanche was born in Littlefork, Minn., on March 23, 1915, to Herbert and Carrrie E. (Allen) Manery. She received her schooling in Littlefork and International Falls, Minn. She graduated from Littlefork High School in 1932. She moved to Whitefish in 1933 and worked for her brother, Byron Manery, owner of the Rainbow Laundry. She met her future husband Charles (Dick) R. Parks who was working for the Great Northern Railroad and Berry’s Drug Store. They were married in Whitefish, July 28, 1934. Charles R. Parks died July 21, 1977. Blanche married Alf R. Kastella on June 25, 1983, in Havre, and they continued to make their home in Whitefish. Alf died on Sept. 29, 1989. In the fall of 2003, Blanche moved to Havre to be closer to her family. After moving to her Havre apartment she enjoyed watching the buses and children going to and from school across the street. Blanche was a longtime member of the Presbyterian Church of Whitefish, receiving Honorary Life Membership in 2000. She was a past president of the Rebekah Assembly of Montana and was advisory officer of the Whitefish Theta Rho Girls Club. She was awarded the Meritorious Service Award for her work in the order. Blanche was also a member of the Auxiliary to UTU and a member of the BNSF Veterans Association. She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Charles R. Parks in 1977; her second husband, Alf R. Kastella in 1989; brother, Byron Manery; and sister, Maybelle Johnson. Blanche is survived by her two children, Delores (Jim) Welter of Havre, and Jerry (Paula) Parks of Shelby; four grandchildren; eight greatgrandchildren; three greatgreat- grandchildren; two ste sons; many nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions in Blanche’s honor may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Building Legacy Fund or to the Memorial Committee of the First Presbyterian Church, both in Whitefish. Arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.
