Marcelina Sandusky was born in Trementina, New Mexico, and raised in Liberal, Kansas. Her grandfather, Ramon Sanchez, emigrated from Spain and became a rancher in Trementina. Her father, Cesario, later moved to Liberal to work on the railroad. Marcelina married musician Gene Sandusky, and in 1941 they moved to Las Vegas, settling in the Sunrise Acres neighborhood.