He grew up on a farm and learned Norwegian as his first language — he was introduced to English when his older brother started school.
In June 1942 at the Fort Benning chapel, he married Signe Byrd, a former classmate in Washington state.
In 1960 he graduated with a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Washington School of Medicine, with financial assistance from a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship.
Upon his retirement in 1983 he retained the title of professor emeritus and maintained a half-time appointment in WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine.
[1] He was named 1981's Outstanding Veterinarian of the Year by the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association.