Pastor Rick Pryce Zion Church records) and attended Lunenburg County Academy, graduating in 1953.

[4] In an interview with Esprit de Corps magazine, she said that she became interested in the military after hearing stories told by Norwegian sailors who visited the family home from Camp Norway during WW2.

Hellstrom had a number of postings between 1959 and 1969, serving as a personnel administrations officer in Toronto, Montreal, St. Hubert, North Bay, and Ottawa.

In 1976, Hellstrom was promoted to lieutenant colonel and worked as a delegate to the Committee on Women in the NATO forces.

In 1986, Hellstrom served as the advisor for the Administration Branch until posted to National Defence College Kingston.

[additional citation(s) needed] On January 27, 1987, Hellstorm was the first woman in the regular force to achieve the rank of brigadier-general, taking on the role of director-general for personnel.