Charles M. Kahl was born in Cleveland, ND to Charles and Evelyn (nee Evelyn Violet Brown) Kahl on May 9, 1932. His family moved to Carrington, ND in 1939 where he attended school, graduating in 1950. He participated in many extra-curricular activities such as football, basketball, band, drama and chorus. In 1951, he joined the Marine Corps and fought in the Korean War for three years. After discharge from the USMC, he went back to surveying, where he met and fell in love with his future wife, Joy Rygg. They were married in August of 1954 and he enrolled at the North Dakota Agricultural College (now NDSU) in the Civil Engineering program. Their daughter Lori was born in 1955 and son Tom was born in 1957.