He was baptized in the Lutheran faith in Sac County on December 5, 1894. He was confirmed on March 27, 1910 in Denison. That same fall, he entered Concordia College in St. Paul to begin studying for the ministry, remaining there for 5 years. After that, he taught parochial school for one year. Then he entered Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois, from which he graduated with honors.

After graduating, he accepted a call to the missionary fields of northern Minnesota, making his headquarters in Goodrich. He met and married Ida Franzman there and one year later their daughter Eunice was born.

On July 5, 1924, he was taken to a hospital in Thief River. While having his tonsils out, he passed away.