Shelia Suvanto was born in Reedley,Ca to Jalmari and Hilda Suvanto from Finland on May 24, 1943.
She attended local schools and graduated from Reedley High School in 1960. Shelia was a beautiful young woman who was gifted artistically. 
At the age of 19 she married her High School sweetheart, Dennis Torigian. They had one Son, Brian Torigian.
Although Dennis and Shelia divorced in the late 1980’s they remained on friendly terms