Laurie Gary Karvonen was born on June 22, 1947 in Jud, ND, the son of Eino and Doris (Nelson) Karvonen. They lived in Menahga, MN until he was in the 5th grade, at that time, they moved to the Lehr-Gackle, ND area. He attended school in Lehr. As a young man, Laurie served in the Army National Guard. He moved to Minnesota and worked at Western Gear as a machinist. After moving to Elk River, MN he worked as an independent truck driver. Laurie returned to ND, making his home in Eckelson working in Jamestown at Goodrich as an aeronautics machinist.