She received a Bachelor of Science in Home Making Education and a minor in English in 1947.
VanLeeuwen served as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1981 to 1999.
In 1999, she was elected to the Linn County Soil and Water Conservation board and held a position there.
In 2002, VanLeeuwen ran for Oregon's 4th congressional district against Peter DeFazio (D).
VanLeeuwen and her husband George lived in Halsey, Oregon, and had four children.