Mary Ellen was born in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Her family moved to Montana when her father, a Section Foreman on the Great Northern Railroad, was transferred. She attended local schools and graduated from Whitefish High School. Mary Ellen has been an activist. She was elected president and district president of the Whitefish Woman’s Club, an international service organization.

She completed a series of courses and worked as a Real Estate Appraiser before her election to the Montana House of Representatives in 1982. She served five terms on the powerful Appropriations and Budget Committee and chair of the Long-range Planning Subcommittee. Appointed to the Western Regional Economic Council, as the Montana representative, because of the district bordering Canada. Charged with economic development and regional oversight, the members were Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Alberta, Canada.

Mary Ellen also served on the Montana drug and alcohol abuse council. Asked to chair the United Way of the county, she raised the most substantial amount ever donated. She was selected “Woman of the Year” for Flathead County and received various other honors. Mary Ellen currently lives on an acre and a half on the Calaveras River in California.