Wesley Eugene Rader was born on September 20, 1941, in Alva, Oklahoma, to Joe and Maxine Rader. Wesley attended most of his schooling as a child in Hardtner, Kansas. He graduated from Hardtner High School in 1959. He then attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU). He did his practice teaching at Hardtner High School and earned his bachelor's degree in education from NWOSU in the spring of 1963.

On December 22, 1963, he was united in marriage with Sandra "Sandi" McKinney in Hardtner, Kansas. During the early years of their marriage they lived in Piedmont, Byers and Attica, Kansas...