Elaine J. Knutson

Elaine Louise Knutson (née Johnson)

Elaine Knutson died on December 15, 2025 after a short illness. She was 93 years old. Elaine was born in Duluth in 1932 during the Depression to Gladys (née Solberg) and Arthur Johnson. Her father died when she was four. Elaine and her mother remained in Duluth where Elaine went to high school, graduating in 1950. She met her future husband, Norton Knutson from Clearbrook, at a dance in Bagley. They dated while Elaine attended business school and worked as a secretary. They were married in 1952. Together they raised a family of four children, spending much of that time on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Port Cartier, Quebec, Canada, where Norton worked as an accountant for Quebec Cartier Mining. Elaine and Norton made many life-long friends during their stay in Canada. Elaine worked in the office at Riverview, the school in Port Cartier that her children attended. Elaine loved the piano and the accordion, and enjoyed playing and singing with friends and family. She helped form a band while in Port Cartier to entertain the locals. Far from any urban hub, they chose to go by the name BTN (Better Than Nothing). After their time in Port Cartier ended, Norton and Elaine spent a few years in Montreal, and then after Norton retired, they returned to Minnesota and settled in Brooklyn Center. Elaine cherished her Scandinavian heritage and made two trips to Sweden. She maintained the connection with her father’s Swedish relatives and corresponded with them throughout her life.

Elaine is survived by her son Lee (and Lynne), daughter Amy (and Jim), and son Eric (and Susan). Her husband Norton died in 2006. Her son Jeffrey died in 2023. Elaine leaves four grandchildren, Katherine Knutson, Adam Knutson, Gavin Hamilton, and Olivia Hamilton, and two great-grandchildren, Amelia Hamilton and James Hamilton. She also leaves two sisters-in-law, Donna Knutson and Donna Vig, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Elaine will be interred beside Norton at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. A memorial service is planned for the spring.

In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly appreciate donations in Elaine’s name to the American Heart Association.