 She graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1933, and then taught English at Ord High School from 1934 until 1941.In 1941 she earned her master's degree in English at the University of Nebraska, and continued graduate work at the University of Michigan where she earned two Hopwood Awards for writing poetry.Despite encouragement from her professors, she decided not to earn her Ph.D.; instead she taught English at the Nebraska City High School from 1941-1942.