When Joseph Eugene Schenstead was born on 23 July 1887, in West Union Township, Todd, Minnesota, United States, his father, Nicolai Olsen Skjenstad, was 40 and his mother, Ellen Eline Mahlen, was 33. He married Jessie Arvida Norum on 27 July 1916. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 1 daughter. He died on 10 January 1969, in Lloydminster (Part), Saskatchewan, Canada, at the age of 81, and was buried in Lloydminster, Lloydminster (Part), Saskatchewan, Canada.