She was born on May 21, 1930, the oldest daughter of Rudolph and Louise (Shuster) Anselmi.
She attended schools in Rock Springs and graduated as valedictorian with the Rock Springs High School class of 1948. After high school she attend the University of Wyoming where she studied business and was affiliated with the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.
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MaryLou then returned to Rock Springs where she was the bookkeeper for the Miner’s Mercantile Company; a department store founded by her paternal grandfather, Joseph Anselmi, and managed by her father. She was also the bookkeeper for her uncle’s company, Huntley Construction.