Mary Etta Kastens, age 88 of Nicollet, died peacefully on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at Oak Terrace in Mankato.

A prayer service will be at 12pm on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – NORTH chapel with Pastor David Carlozsky officiating. Burial will follow in Green Lawn Cemetery in rural Nicollet.

Visitation will be held from 10am-12pm on Wednesday, prior to the service at the funeral home.

To leave an online condolence for her family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

Mary is survived by her daughters, Shelly (Dan) Garman of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sharon Johnston of Nicollet; grandchildren, Krystin (Chad) Mittan, Ryan (Lyndsey) Garman, Erin Kastens, Jessica (Scott) Pankratz, Jenna (Thomas) Kadlec; great-grandchildren, Nolan, Addie, and Myles Mittan, Hadley and Riley Garnan, Anarii Kastens, Olivia and Mason Pankratz, Clayton Kadlec; other relatives and friends

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Roger; her son, Dean; sisters, Opal (Wayne) Biehn, Bernice (Robert) Gronholz; brothers, Raymond (Ruby) Grunst, Leroy (Dorothy) Grunst, Virgil "Dood" (Lois) Grunst, Robert (Arlene) Grunst, Edward (Sandy) Grunst.

Mary Etta Grunst was born December 1, 1936 in Nicollet to Edward and Grace (Hite) Grunst. She was a graduate of Nicollet High School. On July 19, 1956, Mary Etta was united in marriage to Roger Kastens at Trinity Lutheran Church in Nicollet. This union was blessed with three children whom together they raised in Nicollet. Mary Etta began working at the Nicollet Café, later purchasing the business and proudly owning and operating it for more than 25 years. She loved working with the people who came through the doors each day, forming lasting connections and friendships. The café became like a second home, and her family spent countless hours there alongside her. Outside of work, Mary Etta loved visiting casinos, tending to her flower and vegetable gardens, and putting her homegrown produce to good use through canning, jam making, and other homemade creations. She was an avid sports fan and especially cherished cheering on her grandchildren at any event, and her grandson at his baseball games, traveling wherever she needed to be in order to support them from the stands. Time with her grandchildren was the highlight of her life, and she poured her love and energy into every moment spent with them. Her devotion extended deeply into her faith as well—Mary Etta was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Nicollet, where she found comfort, purpose, and community.

Mary Etta will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.