west was born on september 19, 1928 in walla walla, washington to otto west anderson and audrey v. speer and studied at walla walla high school, lakeside school, and whitman college. west was raised in walla walla. west has been married to billie lou yeager from 1950 until they divorced in 1965. he later married frisbie dawson from 1957 until they divorced in 1962. west married to marcelle tagand lear in 1970. west has six children. he lived in ketchum, idaho.