[1] Saltness was born in Alcester, South Dakota,[2] and graduated from Boyd High School in 1916.
[1][3] Saltness served as a part of the United States Armed Forces during World War I.
He served on the Minnesota House of Representatives for one term, from 1941 until 1943.
Saltness also ran for a seat in the Minnesota Senate in 1946, but lost that election as well.
[2] Saltness was married to his wife, Sadie, and they had three children.