Ethel Mae MacPherson was born on October 26, 1899 in Olden Township, Ontario to Joseph and Lizzie MacPherson. When she was a teenager the family moved to Dack Township, near Englehart, Ontario.

On November 9, 1921 Ethel married Darius Herbert Palmateer. They had three children, two boys and a girl.

Both Herbert and Ethel died in 1984 and were buried in Englehart Public Cemetery.