Obituary for Terry Kasten

Terry was born on October 18, 1957, in Caledonia, MN, to Marlin and Violet (Starch) Kampschroer Kasten. He attended his elementary years at the Eitzen School and graduated from Caledonia High School in 1975. From a young age, Terry learned the value of hard work, a lesson that stayed with him throughout his life. Farming alongside his father, Marlin, for more than 20 years, he developed a lasting connection to the land, a quiet strength, and a big heart that defined him.

Terry was married and later divorced. He was the proud father of three children, Rachel, Sara, and Ryan, and a loving grandfather to Brooks and Hudson. He enjoyed going to local parades with his daughters, truck and tractor pulls with his kids and sons-in-law, and watching Ryan take part in demolition derbies. Terry found happiness in simple pleasures: working in his vegetable garden, spending time outdoors, listening to the radio, going for drives, and auctions at Sweeney’s. He loved when his great-niece and her husband, Amanda and Chris, and great-nephew, Adam, came hunting at the farm. He was rarely without a Mountain Dew, and his cowboy boots were always polished.

Terry’s working life reflected his willingness to do whatever was needed. In addition to farming, he worked in logging, construction, roofing, facility maintenance, and environmental services. He spent 14 years at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center and 11 years with Caledonia Haulers, a job he especially loved. Terry took pride in his work, and nowhere was that more evident than in his enjoyment of keeping trucks clean and polished. After his retirement, he continued to stay active by helping Ryan with his business and farming, cutting and splitting wood, and helping Ryan with his projects. He will be remembered for his quiet strength, kind soul, stealthy humor, and unwavering love for his family.

He is survived by his children, Rachel (Steve) Wiste of Kasson, MN, Sara (Tyler) Erickson of Lakeville MN, and Ryan Kasten of Eitzen MN; grandsons, Brooks and Hudson; siblings, Mary (Kampschroer) Mann of Brownsville, MN, Gerald Kampschroer of Spring Grove, MN, and Karen (Kampschroer) and Tank Schroeder of Caledonia, MN; sisters-in-law, Carolyn (Sand) Kampschroer of Spring Grove, MN, Linda (Solberg) Devine of La Crosse, WI, and Lila (Solberg) and Jerry Burmeister of Atwater, MN; several nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and many others whose lives he touched.

Terry is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Tom Kampschroer; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Howard and Marie Solberg; sister-in-law, Sue Kampschroer; brothers-in-law, Jim Mann and John Devine; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

The family would also like to extend a special thank you to Rebecca Meinertz, NP, Tonya Krug, RN, Dr. Michael Ojelabi’s oncology team and the staff on the inpatient oncology floor at Gundersen Health System.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM at St. Luke’s Church in Eitzen, with visitation beginning at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Christmas Ring and Run of Caledonia at Ring and Run Inc., 103 E. High St., Caledonia, Minn., 55921.

Online condolences may be offered to Terry's family at this site.