Dagmar Elizabeth von Lieven was born in 1915 to a prominent Prussian family. Her family fled from Russia, shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution. When Dagmar was 13 she emigrated to Canada with her mother. Growing up she spoke numerous languages, specializing in French. After moving to Canada she quickly learned English.
In Canada, she flourished in high school, and met her future husband, Robert F. Christy. She then attended the University of British Columbia, and kept in touch with Robert, until they both completed their educations. They married in May of 1941. Their first child, Thomas Edward Christy, was born in 1944, at Los Alamos, where Robert was working at the time. Their second child, Peter Robert Christy, was born in 1946 in Chicago. The couple separated in the 1960s.
Dagmar passed away in early 1982.