Ella Del-Castillo

Ella Del-Castillo was born September 21, 1922 to Charlie Stebbin and Ethel Ditty in St. Paul, MN. Ella was raised in Owatonna State Orphanage until she was adopted by Charlie and Jane Casmey who farmed out of Crookston, Minnesota in 1925. These were Ella’s favorite times in her life. Her loving adoped father Charlie died in 1931 leaving Jane alone with Ella and soon becoming to ill to take care of her Ella returned to the Owatonna Orphanage in 1932. She left the Orphanage at 18 years old in 1940 and took employment at a hotel doing laundry. 1941 -1942 she working on a ranch cooking and then working on a farm caring for the wife and doing farm labor. 1944 she married John Basques and continued working on farms being grateful for the work. During this marriage they had four children. She divorced John in 1957 and was united in marriage to Henry Del-Castillo June 2, 1972. They made their home in St.Paul, Minnesota were she ended her farm labor and was a homemaker. They moved to Ortonville in 1985. Ella and Henry were married for 23 years when Henry died March 15, 1995. Ella had a gift for writing short stories and poetry which she did for her family and her many friends. She had a good heart and was a care giver to everyone around her. She made her home at Northridge in Ortonville in 2005.

Our Lord called Ella home on Thursday August 7, 2008 at Northridge Care Center.





Ella is survived by 1 son, John (Eileen) Ditty of St. Paul, MN; 3 daughters, Brenda Yanka of Ortonville, MN, Frances (Don) Kopitzke of Ortonville, MN, Marcella (Don) Baker of Ortonville, MN; step-children, Angelita Del-Catillo, Rosita (Bruce) Briese, Benita Del-Castillo, Nita Del-Castillo, Rudolph Del-Castillo, Henry Del-Castillo Jr., Arthur (Chris) Del-Castillo, Marko Del-Castilo all of St. Paul, MN; 12 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and 20 step-grandchildren. Ella is preceded in death by her mother, and adopted parents; and husband Henry.