Elaine Norton Obituary Elaine died peacefully in Plymouth in the presence of family, succumbing to cancer diagnosed less than one week earlier.Born in Clinton, Iowa to Beulah J. and David B. Ogden, Elaine was the third of three children.Elaine was an avid traveler and adventure-seeker beginning early in life, traveling extensively with her father and husband, Bob, for both business and pleasure. Her travels took her to South America, the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, Africa, New Zealand, Switzerland, Austria and France.She met her future husband on a blind date set up by a best friend and determined at the conclusion of that first date that she wasnt interested. However, persistence paid off with repeated "chance meetings" and Bob finally won her heart. They married on May 2, 1953 in Clinton, Iowa with over 400 couples in attendance.As an avid downhill snow skier in her earlier years she made frequent trips to the slopes of the Western States and Europe, and in later years enjoying cross country skiing.Elaine believed strongly in giving back to the community in which she lived. Through extensive volunteering with various hospitals as a maternity ward volunteer, she found joy in touching the lives of many. When she wasnt volunteering or spending quality time with her family, she and her husband often donated time to the Raptor Foundation of Minnesota, piloting to locations in order to release rehabilitated birds of prey back into their environment. With a fond desire to preserve history and the community and forests of the Eagle River, WI area, she spent many hours in her beloved woods surrounding her summer home where she shared many a summer month with family and friends.Elaines deep love of nature and the peace she felt surrounded by it crossed over into every aspect of her life. She baked a birthday cake for each year of life for all of the 7 boxers who were part of the family. Elaine took time for herself too and fostered a love of the needle arts. But even in this, she gave many hand-made treasures to her friends and family over the years.Elaine is survived by children David (Minneapolis), William (Margaret) (Lake Oswego, OR) and Thomas (Elk River); grand children David Jr., Christina, William Jr., Ryan and Matthew. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers (David and James), her husband Robert, and son Robert.A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Friday November 11, 2011 at the David Lee Funeral Home 1220 East Wayzata Blvd., Wayzata, MN. 55391.In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts of remembrance are sent to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Hennepin County.