Elaine Carole Whittington

life story

Spirited and stubborn, but good-hearted mother and nana. ♥

"Our guardian angels are closer to us than anything except the love of God." ~ Denzel Washington

Elaine C. Whittington (née Carter), age 86, passed away peacefully on June 17 at her assisted living home in Burnsville, Minnesota.

Elaine was born and raised in Cresco, Iowa, where she attended Catholic school. She enjoyed taking piano and dance lessons, as well as spending treasured time on her grandparents' farm over several summers.

Following high school, Elaine moved to Rochester, Minnesota, after being accepted into St. Mary’s School of Nursing. Upon completing the program, she was excited to make the move to the big city, landing her first job as a registered nurse in Minneapolis. This is where she eventually met her future husband of 57 years, James "Jim" Robert Whittington.

Jim and Elaine were married on August 21, 1965, in Austin, Minnesota. In 1967, the young couple bought their first house in North St. Paul, where Jim had started teaching for the local school district while Elaine worked at St. John's Hospital in St. Paul. She later transferred to St. John's Hospital's new location in Maplewood. She spent many of her years working in Pediatrics, which was her favorite area. Together, Elaine and Jim raised three children and made many friends in the community.

Elaine was an avid reader and collector, and enjoyed cross-stitching, puzzles, singing, and painting. The birth of her grandchildren brought her tremendous pride and joy. She continued working at St. John’s Hospital for over 30 years before retiring in 1999. In the spring of 2000, Elaine and Jim migrated to Flower Mound, Texas, to enjoy the warmer weather. While living there, Elaine enjoyed participating in a variety of women’s groups, including a very active book club and the “Out to Lunch Bunch”. In late 2015, Elaine and Jim moved back to Minnesota to be closer to their family again.

Elaine is survived by her children, Roxanne Green, Rochelle Lockwood, and Brent Whittington; her grandchildren, Alexandra Ward, Alyssa (Michael) McSheffrey, Lincoln Lockwood, and Roman Lockwood; her sister, Jane (Gene) Knapp; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband James "Jim" Whittington, who passed away on August 1, 2022; her parents, Lawrence (Larry) and Adelaide Carter; her brothers, Don Carter and Dr. Dean Carter; and her son-in-law, Forest "Tony" Green.

A small family service will be held on Thursday, July 17, at Fort Snelling.

memorial service

Graveside Service

July 17, 2025

Fort Snelling National Cemetery 7601 34th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55450, USA

Small family service followed by luncheon.