Elaine's parents had six children, she happened to be number six. When she came along her siblings were either teenagers or in their twenties. By the time she became a teenager, her parents had retired.

Her growing up years were flavored with many stories from her parents of "old times". They told of how both of them moved from Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado in covered wagons. Her grandparents were real pioneers, blacksmiths, and homesteaders.