[1] The daughter of Joe G. Calvilo and Micaela Chavez, both Mexican immigrants, she was born Frances Calvillo in Hutchinson and was educated at Hutchinson High School.
She received a business certificate from Salt City Business College and an associate bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Hutchinson Community College.
In 1966, she began work as a credit officer for the Wells Department Store.
From 1983 to 1990, she was a volunteer outreach worker and interpreter for the Hutchinson Methodist Ministry.
[1] In 2010, she received the Hank Lacayo Lifetime Achievement Award from the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute.