Elaine Joy Deming

Elaine Joy Deming, age 83, entered into eternal peace on September 28, 2021. Elaine was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and aunt. She was born August 18, 1938, in Minneapolis, MN to John and Gladys Cameron. Elaine grew up in Edina, where her family ran the Cahill grocery store. She attended Saint Cloud State University for one year before she married and had five children: Mark, Nancy, Lisa, Julie and Amy. Elaine lived throughout the country in her younger years before settling back in Minnesota in the mid 1970’s. She later met and married Gary Deming in 1998 after dating nearly twenty years. Gary was her rock, always at her side and cared for her through many of life’s challenges. Elaine and Gary enjoyed traveling to Florida in the winter months and later resided in Florida with her daughter throughout most of the year. Elaine worked as a PT Aide at the Crosby Hospital and then at the Brainerd Hospital, but her true passion in life was being a mother and grandmother. She cherished her time with family.

Elaine was a fighter and her incredible strength came from her family. She loved her family wholeheartedly and was extremely proud of her children and grandchildren. Elaine wanted to be included in everything. She had a fear of missing out on any fun! She loved going to garage sales, playing cards, shopping and especially loved to pontoon. She could make a stranger feel like an old friend with her kindness and love for talking. She will be missed but never forgotten by all who loved her.

Left to honor her memory are her husband Gary Deming; her children Mark Young, Nancy Christianson, Lisa Steffen, Julie Garvey (Mike) and Amy Narvaez (Steve); stepchildren Lee Deming (Ariel) and Laura Pratt (Shawn); sister Linda Hallonquist (Ken); sister-in-law Bernie Cameron; 15 grandchildren: Ryan Young (Kelley), Jenna McCarthy (Keaton), Levi, Casey, Chad and Kaitlyn Christianson, Morgan and Cameron Steffen, Whitney and Tyler Zwirtz, Isabel and Elliana Narvaez, Taylor, Connor and Logan Pratt; and 2 great grandchildren: Brooklyn and Ryleigh Young; as well as many other dear relatives and friends.

A memorial will be held at Halvorson Taylor Funeral Home, 512 South 8th Street, Brainerd on Friday, October 8, 2021 at 10:30 am. There will be a visitation on Thursday, October 7, 2021 between 5-7 pm. Memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association.