Andrew grew up in Beresford, South Dakota with his two older sisters and younger brother. Growing up he enjoyed flying and building model airplanes with his dad. He spent summers helping on his grandparents' farms. While growing up he was involved in Boys Scouts where he worked towards the Eagle Scout rank. In school he was involved in football, wrestling, FFA and robotics.

After high school, he joined the Army National Guard. In the fall of 2020, he choose to attend South Dakota State University to major in Ag Business. He began working towards getting his private pilots license in May of 2021. Eventually, he made the decision to switch majors and pursue Aviation Education. He is also involved in the FarmHouse Fraternity.

Mahala grew up in Eyota, Minnesota with her twin sister and her two older sisters. She enjoyed attending sporting events with her dad and talking about quilting with her mom. While growing up she was involved in 4-H, doing projects like quilting, electrical, shop, and livestock. In high school, she was involved in Minnesota Honor Society. She loved playing volleyball, basketball, and softball throughout her school years.

After high school, she chose to attend South Dakota State University to major in Nursing. She is involved in National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Sigma Theta Tau. She graduates in December of 2023 and will begin working on the Surgical Trauma unit at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

Andrew and Mahala met in the fall of 2021. They went on their first date and started spending more and more time together. Shortly after meeting, Andrew optimistically asked Mahala to go to a military ball which was still months away. Mahala agreed thinking it was coming up soon as they were not even dating yet. After about a month of getting to know each other, Andrew asked Mahala to be his girlfriend. They have been together ever since.

Their first major event together was the military ball Andrew asked Mahala to a few months earlier. Once school was out for the summer, Andrew and Mahala drove back and forth several weekends in order to spend time together. Andrew gave Mahala a promise ring near the end of the summer. Some of their favorite memories include laughing at the gym in the morning, long drives between their families' homes, and spontaneous dates.

Andrew's proposal was intricately planned. However, things do not always go as planned. Andrew and Mahala went to Culver's for a quick meal before the movie they planned to go see. They were in the movie theater packing lot when Andrew told Mahala to wait because he had something to ask. He proceeded to get down on one knee and asked her to marry him. She started to giggle and said yes!

They are excited to begin their new chapter with all of you!