James E. and Kristena Casteel, died Tuesday May 9th, 2006 as the result of an auto accident near St. Onge, SD.

Kristena Hald and James Casteel were married September 24, 2004 in Sturgis and made their home on the farm and ranch near Vale.

Kristena was born January 14, 1969 at Chadron, NE, to Carl P. and Bonnie Jean (Perkins) Hald Jr. She attended Oelrichs public schools and graduated from high school in Oelrichs in 1987. She participated in band, rodeo club, 4H, basketball and cheerleading. She moved to Chadron, NE where she worked at the Pamida Store for 11 years. She began working for the Dawes County Jail as a corrections officer in 1998.

After her marriage to James, they moved to the farm near Vale where she was actively involved working alongside her husband. She enjoyed doing things with her family and nieces and nephews and working with her father and uncle on the ranch.

Her family includes her mother and father, Carl and Bonnie Hald, Oelrichs; four sisters, Karla Elwess and her husband Delwin, and their children, Amanda and Rhonda, Chadron, NE, Karen Hald, Chadron and her son Brandon Prelle, Kathleen Kling and her husband Dave and their children, Cyle, Dawson, Madison, Ogallala, NE, Kelly Drinkwalter and her husband B.J. and their son Lane, Crawford, NE; a cousin, Cliff McCormick and his wife Wanda and their son, Kendal, Chadron, NE.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents.

Kristena and James enjoyed life. They attended rodeos and loved dancing. They appreciated family and friends and the country life. They were active in their church, but most of all they loved working together.

Burial follows at the St. Aloysius Cemetery in Sturgis.