Elaine M. Stevens

Elaine Margaret Stevens was born on March 6, 1930 in Olivia, Minnesota, a small farming community 100 miles west of Minneapolis. Her grandparents emigrated from Sweden and her parents, Peter Elmer Peterson and Edith Christine Lindberg, were both of Swedish decent. She was baptized at First Lutheran Church on April 13, 1930. Elaine was raised on a farm with her younger brother, Paul Peterson, and attended a one room country school. On May 21, 1948, Elaine graduated from Olivia High School and moved to Minneapolis to attend Minneapolis Business College. While in college she worked as a live-in nanny, where she met her neighbor, Herbert Stevens. She graduated from college on December 9, 1949 with a course completion in stenography. Herb and Elaine were married on September 8, 1951 at First Lutheran Church in Olivia, Minnesota. Herb worked for the U.S. Geological Survey as a research hydrologist. His work transferred the family to many different locations around the United States. They lived in Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio, Minnesota, Oregon, Louisiana and Colorado. Their four daughters arrived in the cities of Lincoln, Columbus, Minneapolis and Portland. As the years passed, four sons-in-law and 8 grandchildren joined the family. Elaine spent many hours volunteering over the years. While they lived in Portland, Oregon, she was active in the PTA and school functions. At Augustana Lutheran Church, Elaine and Herb were high school youth leaders and Elaine sang in the choir. Elaine joined Chapter AV, P.E.O., a Philanthropic Educational Organization that has championed the education of women since it was founded in 1869. In 1973, the family moved to Littleton, Colorado. Elaine became a charter member of Chapter G.K., P.E.O. She served as President for two terms and held other offices. Elaine and Herb joined Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Elaine sang in the choir and was involved with many activities in the church. Elaine celebrated her Swedish heritage and shared many traditions with her family. She served traditional Swedish Christmas Eve meals and purchased Swedish items for her family. Herb and Elaine were members of the Bega/Littleton Sister City Exchange and the Swedish Club of Denver. She served as secretary for Swedish Club and volunteered for several other activities. Elaine enjoyed watching sports, meeting new people, traveling and photography. Herb called Elaine his Swedish gypsy because she loved to travel. She enjoyed the trips home to Minnesota to see relatives and catch up on the latest news. She also enjoyed traveling overseas. They traveled to Australia, New Zealand, and took several trips to Sweden. Her latest trip was to England for a family reunion. Elaine tried to capture perfect photos of special events. She volunteered to take pictures for weddings, baptisms, family reunions and church events. She made posters for church to share her photos and events. She was proud when her photos were published for the Littleton Calendar. Elaine passed away peacefully on December 10th at the Someren Glen rehabilitation facility after a short bout with pneumonia. She was preceded in death by her husband Herbert H. Stevens Jr.. Her survivors include her four daughters, Beverly and Scott Peterson, Oregon City, Oregon, Jennifer and Robert Exley, Centennial, Colorado Paula and Gary Ellermann, Bow Mar, Colorado Sandra and Christopher Cotter, Pueblo, Colorado; 8 grandchildren, Reid and Arielle Peterson, Moscow, Idaho, Brent Peterson, Oregon City, Oregon, Brian Exley, Centennial, Colorado, Brooke Exley, Centennial, Colorado, Emily Ellermann, Chicago, Illinois, Andrew Ellermann, Fort Collins, Colorado, Ashley Cotter, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado, Joshua Cotter, Pueblo, Colorado; her sister-in-law, Marie Peterson, Willmar, Minnesota and nieces, Laura and Rick Aanerud, Montevideo, Minnesota, Susie Peterson, Bird Island, Minnesota Nephew: Brad and Patti Peterson, Willmar, Minnesota as well as numerous other relatives. Memorial service was held at 2:00 pm on Monday, December 28, 2015 in the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 6322 S. Lakeview Street, Littleton, Colorado. Her cremated remains will be laid to rest with her husband in the Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Elaine are suggested to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 6322 S. Lakeview St, Littleton, Co 80120 or to the P.E.O. Foundation, Chapter GK Colorado – Scholarship Fund, 3700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, Iowa 50312