Stella T. Gast, age 95, of Fertile, Minnesota, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at Fair Meadow Nursing Home, in Fertile. 
Stella Theresa Waale was born on January 10, 1926, the daughter of Thom and Signe (Skretvedt) Waale at their rural home near Nielsville, MN. She was the sixth of eight children with five sisters and two brothers.
She attended elementary school in Nielsville and later graduated from Climax (MN) High School in 1943. Growing up she worked for relatives and neighbors as well as a cashier in the local grocery store. All her life, Stella had a strong faith in her Lord and was baptized and confirmed at St. Petri Lutheran Church in Nielsville. She joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corp. in March of 1944 and graduated from Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis in 1947. During one of her nursing rotations, she worked in a Navajo hospital at Fort Defiance, AZ. Upon graduation, when WWII was ending she worked at Bethesda Hospital in Crookston, MN.
Stella met the love of her life, Warren Gast on a blind date. They were married on April 17, 1948, at St. Petri Lutheran Church, and settled on a dairy farm near Beltrami where Warren grew up. Stella was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church for many years, where she participated in Bible study, WELCA, Miriam Circle, and quilting. She taught Sunday school, VBS, and release time, and served in several church office positions in addition to being a delegate to conventions, and a member of Gideons Auxilary, Stella and Warren were blessed with seven children and raised them on the farm where they continued to live until moving into Beltrami in 1981. Over the years, she enjoyed many family activities, her travels with Warren, singing, reading, softball games, watching birds, growing flowers, quilting, and studying the bible.
Warren passed away in 1997. Stella continued to live in her home in Beltrami until moving to an apartment in Ada, MN, in 2003. In August of 2016, she moved to Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile, where she has resided since.
Stella is survived by her children, Susan (Greg) Holmvik, Ada, MN, Sandra (Jon) Veile, Hope, ND, Brad (Magali) Gast, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Bruce (Mary) Gast, East Grand Forks, MN, Randy (Jo) Gast, East Grand Forks, MN, and Mike Gast, Grygla, MN, 22 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Also, surviving are her sister Lorraine Knutson of Glenwood, MN, and many nieces and nephews and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Warren, son, Harold, daughter-in-law, Darlene Gast, her siblings, Doris Tuseth, Gladys Sistad, Alice Sistad, Ina Braaten, Ole Waale, Hans Waale, and a great-grandson, Beckett Warren Gast.
Funeral Service: 11:00 AM Friday, December 31, 2021, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Beltrami, MN.
Interment: Fairview Cemetery, rural Beltrami, MN.
Due to COVID 19 concerns, masks are required at the visitation and funeral.
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