Dr. Okerstrom was born January 5, 1948, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa High School in 1966 and the University of Iowa in 1970, with a Bachelor of Science degree, in combination with starting his first year of dental school. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1973.

Following graduation, he continued training with a two-year dental internship in the United States Army. In 1975, he began a two-year residency program with specialty training in orthodontics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City (UMKC). In 1977, he began private practice in Lenexa and Ottawa, Kansas.

Dr. Okerstrom, commonly called Dr. O, lives in Fairway, Kansas with his wife Carol and their children, Kathleen, Kevin and Corey. His hobbies include fishing, boating and travel. His main extracurricular activity, however, is spending time on the golf course.