He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in economics and earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He served in the U.S. Navy.
He was manager of the Credit Union at the Nebraska Department of Labor. He was a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Lincoln for 36 years, sang in the choir, and served as Sunday School superintendent and on the church council. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta, the Cosmet Club, and American Legion Post 1. He also was an Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow recipient, Scoutmaster, and regional Eagle Review Board chairman.
