Career
Born in Vikna, she was secretary of the union Norsk Arbeidsmandsforbund (Union of Norwegian Working Men) from 1967 to 1977, and of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (Liaison Office) from 1977 to 1985. On 3 October 1980, upon the resignation of Inger Louise Valle, she was appointed Minister of Local Government Affairs in the government of Odvar Nordli (1976–1981), and remained in this position throughout the short-lived first government of Gro Harlem Brundtland in 1981.