Goodhue's professional career began in 1926 as a graduate in Education and Mathematics from Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota. He applied this degree as a teacher of Mathematics at Moorhead, Minnesota High School until 1942, when he joined the Army as an officer in his National Guard unit. After being discharged he enrolled in the University of Minnesota for a Graduate Degree in Counselling Psychology. He retied from the St. Paul Post Office in 1966.