Belva Marie (Casterton) Fadness, age 96, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away Friday, January 9, 2026, at Ossian Care Center in Ossian, Iowa, surrounded by her family.

Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water Street, Decorah, Iowa, with Rev Randy Kittelson presiding. Burial will take place following the service at the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah.

Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water Street, Decorah, Iowa.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff at the Ossian Care Center and St. Croix Hospice.

Belva was born February 3, 1929, to Josiah + Augusta (Busness) Casterton on the family farm north of Highlandville. She was baptized and confirmed at Highland Church. She attended grade school at Highland # 2, also known as Rock Spring + Kjome School. Wanting to further her education past 8th grade, she made the bold decision to move to town on her own, get a job, and start high school at the age of 14. Her first job was in the Cozy Tea Room and later the Hummer Café (Ronnie’s Café). Belva graduated from the Decorah High School class of 1947.

Upon graduation, she moved to Philadelphia, PA, to help her sister, who was expecting a baby. While there, she worked as a nurse’s aide at Temple University Hospital. After her time in Philadelphia, she moved home and started work at the Decorah Dry Cleaners. It was there she met the man who would be the love of her life, Harold Fadness. They shared their first date on St. Patrick’s Day 1948 at Matter’s Ballroom, a place Belva would recall were some of her fondest memories of their time together. They married on July 27, 1949. Together they had five children: Edward, David, Julie, Daniel, and Janet. Along with raising their family, they built Fadness Body Shop (now East Side Body Shop), working side by side, with a kid or five in tow, until Harold’s untimely death in 1967. After his death, Belva rented out the body shop, later selling and she started working in the laundry department at Aase Haugen Home. She retired from Eastern Star.

Belva had a strong work ethic, a strong personality, and if she put her time into something, you could be sure she was passionate about it. A project that she was profoundly proud of being part of was the revitalization of the Locust Lane Salem Cemetery, also known as Seegmiller Cemetery, north of Decorah.

Belva was a lifelong Christian. A member of Hauge Lutheran Church. As the longest living person in her family, she is the end of a generation. There is sure to be a beautiful reunion for her.

Proceeding her in death were her parents, Josiah + Augusta. The love of her life, Harold. Grandsons, Alan Fadness + Joshua Dandsdill. Great-granddaughter, Kaitlyn Quandahl. Daughter-in-law, Ruthann (Vick) Fadness. Her siblings and their spouses, Edna (Alvin) Swenson, Palma (Orville) Wermager, Lawrence (Ethel) Casterton, Myrtle (Mel) Noecker, June (Leonard) Olson, James (Shirley) Casterton, Bernard (Martha) Casterton and her brother James Casterton, who died at age 7. Harold’s parents and siblings, Eric + Anna Fadness, Norris (Virginia) Fadness, Arlene (Milton) Young, Ray (Arlene) Fadness, and Esther Fadness.

Belva is survived by her children, Edward Fadness, David (Lynn) Fadness, Julie (Ray) Quandahl, Daniel (Audrey) Fadness and Janet (Gene) Uhlenhake. Her grandchildren, Eric (Valerie Garcia) Fadness, Hollie (Joe) Mason, Troy (Casie) Fadness, Travis Fadness, Laura (Ryan) Gronna, Paul (Camille Dahlquist) Fadness, Cory (Selina) Quandahl, Casey (Anne) Quandahl, Amanda Fadness, Jake (Jordan) Fadness, Stephanie (Luke) Sollner, Mitchell (Brooke Norby) Fadness, Jared Dansdill, Jillian (Bill Goede) Dansdill. Her great-grandchildren, Alexandra (Tyler Nicklos) Garcia, Lexi (Tanner) Walker, Kevin (Jenna) Mason, Carolyn Mason, Hannah + Max Fadness, Maya + Hadley Gronna, Addison + Annika Quandahl, Brody + Charlie Quandahl, Layla + Braxton Fadness, Baby Sollner (due Feb), Aurora + Arlo Dansdill, Henry Goede. Her great-great-grandchildren, Memphis + Sedona Walker, Carter, Callahn + Cooper Mason, Jocelyn Mason.