Alyda was born on June 13th, 1929, in Fruitland, WA to William and Helga Schleer where she grew up on a farm. After traveling the country on a sales team, she settled in Yonkers, NY where she raised a family. She worked in New Jersey as an executive secretary for several legal and industrial product companies for over twenty years. She enjoyed being involved in local community groups in Suffern, NY and she was the president of the Squire's Gate neighborhood association.