Elaine Marie Lundgren Duke

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Born in 1930, Elaine was the third child of Ray and Ruth Lundgren, first generation immigrants from Sweden.

With Mother and big sister Joanie, Bethany Beach, Michigan, 1931

Lainey always loved the beach.

The middle house was home. 7642 South Wood Street, Chicago

1933

1939 Elaine, Joan and Richard

Elaine The Lundgrens

Little sister Doris and Elaine, Paddock Lake, Wisconsin

Elaine, Joan and Doris, in the Swedish neighborhood of Foster Park in Chicago, 1945

Elaine’s father took a job transfer to Gulfport, Mississippi just as she finished high school.

She met Pete Duke at the University of Southern Mississippi.

They were married on September 17, 1949

Elaine at 20 years old,1950

February 1951. The beautiful new mother.

“I made that dress! The neckline was too low, so I added the lace.”

With Andy, 1952

Andy, Elaine, and Barbara

1955, Gulfport, Mississippi

Labor Day, Gulf Shores, Alabama, 1957

And then there were three…Barbara, Andy, Elaine and Chris, 1959

And Rusty makes four, 1963

25th Wedding Anniversary, 1974

My son, the animal doctor! 1975

Lainey’s name change began in the late 1970’s.

She felt too young to become “grandma,” so Justin and the seven grandchildren to follow called her Lainey.

After a while, so did everyone else!

Thirty years later:

“My grandson, the doctor.”

Justin Duke, M.D. 2007

Lainey often sang in her church choir, because she loved to sing.

1976-1988 were Lainey’s Sweet Adelines years.

Her rich alto voice enriched the chorus, and she sang with the quartet called Special Blend.

Sweet Adelines from Mobile visit Sweden, 1984

Elaine making Swedish skorpa with her mother and sister Joan, visiting from Chicago.1981

Lainey could sew anything, knit anything, crochet anything.

In her sewing room, 1985

With sister Joan at Dauphin Island, 1993

Lainey loved to dance with her perfect partner.

1996

1999

Elaine and Pete danced together for 54 years.

Lainey’s eight grandchildren filled three decades with adventures, large and small.

With Emily, 1994 and 2006

Reading to Madison, 1988

Reading to Lauren, 2002

Cullan, Lainey and Jonathan, 2001

With grandson Robert at Disney World, 2004

The oldest and youngest women of the Duke clan, Lainey and Cate, 2010

Lucky at love, Lainey found a special friend in Bert Bertolotti. 2005

Belize, 2006

Lainey loved to travel. “If you want to put a smile on Elaine’s face, get out a suitcase,” Pete liked to tease.