Elaine Berry Dodson was born in Globe, Arizona February 26, 1945, to Ed and Hazel Berry. By the time Elaine was six months old, her mother and father separated. Elaine, her brother, Eddie, and her mother relocated to Terraville, South Dakota, where her mother grew up.

In 1947, Hazel married Art Anway and soon afterward, her half sister, Eileen, joined the family.

Elaine attended grade school in Terraville, graduated from Lead High School in the spring of 1963 and that fall entered Black Hills State College. That same fall, she met her future husband, Neil Dodson at a dance held at the Tretheway Pavilion in Spearfish, South Dakota. After getting married in August 1965 and having two children, Elaine returned to Black Hills State College, receiving a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Library Science in 1969.

Elaine taught school for several years, receiving teacher of the year honors while teaching in Edgemont, SD. She moved on from teaching and became the Edgemont City Librarian for several years. Making another career change, she attended Western Dakota Technical Institute to learn computer skills. After graduating from WDTI, she worked for Black Hills Works and then Rapid City Regional Hospital.

In 1996, Elaine was forced to go on disability because of her fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. At the age of 60, she and Neil became guardians to a son who was 4 years old. Her love of her son, her books, coloring books, paper, pens, and pencils kept her busy the last several years as her medical issues increased to include the cancer that took her life.

Survivors are her husband of 60 years, Neil; daughters, Teresa and Suzanne; son Keegan and his fiancé Kylie; kitties, Pixie and Fancy.

Elaine was proceeded in death by her father, Ed; mother, Hazel; stepdad, Art; sister, Eleanor; brother, Eddie and half sister, Eileen.

Interment will be at Mountain Lawn Cemetery south of Lead, South Dakota on 2 December 2025 at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite animal charity.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish.