Lela Caskey, age 87, of Spearfish, South Dakota and formerly of Storm Lake, Iowa, died Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at her daughter's home in Spearfish.

Services for Mrs. Caskey will be held on Monday, March 23, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake. Resting place will be next to her husband in Lone Tree Cemetery at Sioux Rapids, Iowa. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will take place on Sunday, March 22, 2008, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Storm Lake, where the family will be present.

Lela Jane Mead was born September 23, 1921 at McLeansboro, Illinois to John Earnest and Anna Pearl Tolley Mead. She attended Colo Consolidated School in Story County, Iowa, and graduated from Colo High School in 1939.

Lela continued her education for the next two years, 1939-1941, at West-Mar College in LeMars, Iowa and received a teacher's certificate. In 1964, Lela graduated from Toledo University with a Bachelor of Education degree. She taught approximately 39 1/2 years in Iowa; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Toledo, Ohio; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. She taught her last 18 years in Storm Lake before she retied in 1987.

On June 16, 1944, Lela was united in marriage to Lloyd Eldon Caskey of Sioux Rapids, Iowa on June 16, 1944. The couple was blessed with one daughter, Jo Lee.

Lela was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Cazel, Paul, Robert; her sister Emma; and her husband.

She is survived by one daughter, Jo Lee Caskey of Spearfish, South Dakota, with whom she lived for the past two-and-a-half years. She also leaves behind three adopted granddaughters: Shondel Lutnes, Jessie Querl, Ann Lutnes; three sisters-in-law: Mrs. Connie Mead of Colo, Iowa; Mrs. Phyllis Caskey of Bella Vista, Arkansas; and Mrs. Darlene Caskey of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; many nieces, nephews, and friends.