Don was born June 4, 1932 in Wadena County, Minnesota, the son of Verner and Elma (Paurus) Niskanen. He was raised in Sebeka and graduated from Sebeka High School. He served with the U.S. Army from 1952-54. He married Janet Lien while serving in the military. They moved to Bemidji, where he attended BSU for his teaching education.