When Burness Otto Thoe was born on 13 January 1895, in Day, South Dakota, United States, his father, Johannas Oddson "John" Thoe, was 27 and his mother, Syverine or Severina J Leonne Oakland Okland, was 26. He married Ajelina Bernice Koelle in 1928. He lived in Langford, Marshall, South Dakota, United States in 1910 and Spring Valley Township, Clark, South Dakota, United States for about 20 years. He died on 11 January 1975, in Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa, United States, at the age of 79, and was buried in Wallace, Codington, South Dakota, United States.