Born in Brule, Wisconsin, Nyquist received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from North Dakota State University and his Juris Doctor degree from William Mitchell College of Law (now the Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
After earning his undergraduate degree, he worked as an engineer for Honeywell.
He lived in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota and served as mayor of the city from 1978 to 1990.
[2][3] Nyquist was the Republican nominee for Attorney General of Minnesota in 1974, losing to Warren Spannaus.
[4] Nyquist and his wife, Marie, were married for 52 years and had three children.