Margaret Oliver was born Margaret Ruth Hammett on 19 December 1927. She attended United College in Winnipeg starting in 1944-45 for her grade 12 program. She continued at United College (an affiliate of the University of Manitoba at the time) within the Science program for her first year of university during the 1945-1946 school year. As a student Oliver was involved in athletics, including volleyball, basketball, and the Varsity Ski Club. Upon graduating from the University of Manitoba in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree, Oliver (then Hammett) received an award for academic excellence from the Faculty of Science. During her first year after graduation, Oliver worked as an Assistant Librarian in the Science Library on the University of Manitoba Fort Garry campus. She furthered her studies in the Laboratory Technician program at the University of Manitoba Medical College, during which time Oliver provided technical assistance for a published study on "The Action of Cortisone and ACTH on Thyroid Function" (by William F. Perry). On 25 September 1954 Margaret Hammet married Thomas Albert Oliver, also a former University of Manitoba Science graduate, and they were married until Dr. T. A. Oliver passed away in October 1997.