LeVander was born in Swedehome, Nebraska (near Stromsburg, Polk County) and attended high school in Watertown, Minnesota.

He married Iantha Powrie in 1938, and they raised a family of three children: Harold "Hap," Jean, and Diane LeVander.

He also worked for the law firm of Stassen & Ryan in South St. Paul, and taught speech and coached debate at Macalester College.

He also created the Metropolitan Council, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and the inaugural Human Rights Department.

During his term, the legislature ratified the Twenty-sixth Amendment, which lowered the minimum voting age nationwide to 18.