velma bronn was born in reno, nevada to joseph bronn and his wife gertrude clay and grew up on the family’s "lazy heart ranch". in 1923 she contracted polio and was confined to a cast for six months. she married charles johnston and they took over operation of the ranch and later turning it into the "double lazy heart ranch", a dude ranch for children. the name of the ranch was changed so as to include charles in the family business. johnston also worked as a secretary for an insurance company.