One of seven children born to parents of Scandinavian descent, Leonard Edward Ekelund (1879-1969) and Gladys Marretta (Lewis) Ekelund (1898-1985). Her sister,
Caryll Ann Ekelund died from burns received when her Halloween costume caught fire from a Jack-O-Lantern's candle. The sisters had five older brothers (Edward, Robert, Darcy, Gareth and Ivan) Ekelund.