Eileen "Sissy" Kastner, 71, Grand Forks and formerly of Minot and Rock Lake, died Sunday, June 10, 2012 in a Grand Forks Hospital.

Eileen was born October 29, 1940 on the family farm near Rock Lake, ND in Towner County, the daughter of Peter and Mabel (Gall) Sparby. She was raised on the family's dairy farm and graduated from Rock Lake High in 1958, where she played high school girls basketball.

Eileen was once married to Elmer Kastner. They made their home in Minot, where she was employed at Sears, Radiology Consultants and for Bechtold Paving as a secretary/bookkeeper. She moved to Grand Forks in 1984 and was employed with Catholic Family and Lutheran Social Services placing children with adoptive families in the area.

While residing in Minot, Eileen was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. She enjoyed playing bingo, reading and watching basketball & hockey games, especially UND and the Chicago Bulls. Her grandchildren remember her best for her wonderful chocolate chip cookies and her love for her cats.

Her loving family includes, children, Colleen (Kelly) Bertsch, Minot, Virginia Gross, Minot and Allen Kastner, Aurora, CO.; grandchildren, Kristin (Bill) Kokot, Kayla (Chad) Haugeberg, Kelsey Bertsch and her boyfriend, Scott Martin, Stephanie Gross; great-granddaughter, Ellie Kokot; brother, Tom (Karen) Sparby, Whitefish, MT and sister, Betty Mae Smith, Missoula, MT; several nieces and nephews.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, and sisters, Bonnie and Ida.

Mass of Christian Burial : Friday, June 15, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot.
V igil Prayer service: Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Graveside Service: Friday, June 15, 2012 at 2:45 p.m. in the Rock Lake Community Cemetery.
Visitation: Thursday from 2:00-7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.