Born in Sterling, Kansas, Pence attended the UC Berkeley School of Law, but read law to enter the bar in 1928. He was in private practice of law in Hilo, Territory of Hawaii from 1936 to 1945. He was a judge of the Third Circuit Court of the Territory of Hawaii from 1945 to 1950. He returned to private practice in Hilo, Territory of Hawaii (State of Hawaii from 1959) from 1950 to 1961.
