[1] She was born in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway, She was a daughter of major Alf Jakhelln (1883–1947) and Agnes Prebensen (1884–1923).

After he mother's death when she was eleven, she was raised by an uncle and aunt in Østerdalen.

She was trained in Budapest by Vilmos Aba-Novák in 1934 and at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry (Statens håndverks- og kunstindustriskole) by Wilhelm Rasmussen.

Her bronze in St. Mary-le-Bow Church in London is a memorial to the fallen in the Norwegian resistance movement during World War II.

The artwork featuring Saint George and the Dragon was unveiled by King Olav V of Norway in 1966.