She received an associate in arts degree in business administration from the College of San Mateo in California.
In 1968, she married Art Christensen, a geologist.
In 1971, she was appointed the first woman justice of the peace and judge of the juvenile court in Yukon.
In 1975, she was elected the first woman mayor of Whitehorse; on the same day, Yolanda Burkhard was elected as the first woman mayor of Dawson City.
In 1979, she served as the Commissioner of the Yukon, being the first woman to be appointed as Commissioner of the Yukon.
In 1980, she ran unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate, in the federal election for the riding of Yukon.
She lost by 101 votes to Erik Nielsen.
In 1994, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.