GREW UP ON HER PATERNAL GRANDFATHER'S HOMESTEAD IN NORTH DAKOTA. BORN DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION, SHE EXPERIENCED THE HARDSHIPS OF THAT TIME AND THEIR EFFECTS ON HER FAMILY. MARRIED YOUNG, SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAD THREE CHILDREN.
SHE FREELANCED DESIGN WORK AND LATER HAD A SUCCESSFUL INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS. SHE WAS PUBLISHED NATIONALLY. ALSO, AN AVID DUPLICATE BRIDGE PLAYER. PLAYING WITH HER HUSBAND AS HER PARTNER. PLAYED IN LOCAL DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES FOR YEARS. HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO PLAY IN NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AGAINST THE BEST PRO'S IN THE BRIDGE WORLD.