Charles "Charlie" Calvin Elston was born on July 27, 1924, in Windom, Minnesota to the late Charles Christopher and Ethlyn (Lanam) Elston. He received his education in the Windom Public Schools, graduating in the Class of 1942. On September 4, 1949, Charles was united in marriage to Betty Jane Lois Oleson at the Amo Lutheran Church in rural Storden. Charles and Betty farmed in Great Bend township in rural Windom their entire married life. Farming was not just an occupation but a lifestyle for Charles. His greatest passion was the raising of livestock. Towards the end of his career he and his son Ray had approximately 120 stock cows and feeding a few hundred feeders along with investing in feedlots in South Dakota. He worked closely with his children's 4-H calf projects over the years. Charles and Betty were blessed with seven children. They instilled in them the values of work, love, faith, family and being a good neighbor. This legacy continues through their children and grandchildren. After retiring, his son Ray who was in partnership with him took over the entire farming operation. On Charles 90th birthday he celebrated with the family and neighborhood on the Elston Farms becoming a registered Century Farm. Along with farming Charles was an avid deer hunter and enjoyed many fishing trips and pheasant hunting. In retirement Charles and Betty wintered in Texas for ten years. Charles was a longtime, dedicated member of the First United Methodist Church in Windom. Besides his church, Charles was also involved in his community as a member of Windom Co-op Elevator Board, Beef Producers, and the Country School Board. In 2007, Charles moved off of the farm and resided at Remick Estates in Windom until 2016 when he moved to the Good Samaritan Society-Sogge Memorial in Windom where he received excellent care until passing away peacefully on November 9, 2020, at the age of 96 years. Charles is survived by his six children, Ray Charles Elston (Pat) of Windom; Mark Robert Elston (Elaine) of Minneapolis; Linda Jane Elston of Minneapolis; Gary Dean Elston (Mojgan) of Glendale,AZ; John Clayton Elston (Joanne) of Grand Saline, TX; Daryl Lee Elston (Lynne) of Windom; 19 grandchildren: Daniel Elston-Jones, Adam Elston-Jones, Meredith (Jamieson) Pool, Chad (Emily) Elston, Jeff (Lindsay) Elston, Ryan (Jenni) Elston, Ben (Gayle) Elston, Sarah (Sam) Weiner, Megan Elston, Jesse (Shabnam) Elston, Jenne (Nayson) Khorvash, Nathan (Courtney) Kolander, Padaric Kolander, Oliver (Ashley) Elston, Mary (Tim) Boen, Kimberly (Zach) Dynes, Lindsay (Colin) Elston, Amy Elston and Emily Elston; 28 great-grandchildren; and many more relatives and friends. Charles is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Betty Jane; daughter, Mary Elston Borsgard; Son-in-Law Tim Jones; one brother, Robert and two sisters, Roberta and Ruth. Blessed be the memory of Charles Elston.