In the fall of 1941, her family moved to New Plymouth, ID,
where she received her elementary and secondary education.
Following her high school graduation, she enrolled in Nampa
Business College in Nampa, ID. She then worked as a legal
secretary for attorneys in Boise, ID, and Eugene, OR. She
was only 20 years old when she went from New Plymouth, ID,
to Washington, D.C., to work for U.S. Senator Frank Church.
Her mentor was Verda Barnes, Senator Church's legendary
administrative assistant. Senator Church's widow, Bethine,
praised Myrna's work, noting that the
"Verda and Myrna" team "ran like clockwork."

In the 1960s,
she was an active member of the Young Democrats of America
and served as their National Committeewoman from Idaho.
In this capacity, she met with President John F. Kennedy
in the Rose Garden and played a key role in
President Lyndon Johnson's 1964 inaugural.
She also made many friends throughout the country,
some of which remained friends for life.

A member of Senator Church's staff throughout his tenure
in the Senate, Myrna held many positions in the senator's
office. She was, perhaps, most widely recognized as an expert
at helping Idahoans with their individual problems with the
federal government. From 1978 until 1980, she served as
Senator Church's administrative assistant, supervising one
of the most respected offices on Capitol Hill.

Throughout much of the 1980s and early 1990s,
she worked as executive secretary for the Idaho State
Democratic Party, where she continued her efforts to elect
men and women of principle and ability to public office.
Until days before her death, Democratic candidates, knowing
of her great knowledge of Idaho politics, continued
to seek her counsel.

From 1991 to 1994,
Myrna served as the chief caseworker
in Larry LaRocco's Congressional office.
She was described by Governor Cecil D. Andrus as
"an icon of Idaho politics."