She attended Wakefield High School in Wakefield, Nebraska, and graduated in 1949. She continued her education at the University of Nebraska College of Nursing, from which she graduated in 1953. She began her nursing career in St. Paul at Beatrice Hospital. Later she worked in an ophthalmology practice at the Lincoln Clinic in surgery.
While at UNL she met Albert Mitcheltree and they were married on May 3, 1953, in Omaha, Nebraska. They raised 4 children in Lincoln.
Her hobby and love of sewing led her to open and manage the sewing store Sew Creative, Inc, in Lincoln from 1978 to 2004.
She and Albert were avid travelers all over the world throughout their marriage. She also enjoyed game nights and cards with friends while living at Savannah Pines Retirement Community. She kept many friendships with international students whom she taught English and sewing through the Lincoln Literacy organization.
She is survived by her children, Kathleen Borg, Jane Biddick (David), Valerie Borg, Bryan Mitcheltree, 7 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Albert, and her sisters, Vera Geary and Lois Peterson.