Ronald Bananto was born February 13, 1930 in Coal Run, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Bonanto moved to Pioche, Nevada in 1949. A year later, and after a short period in San Francisco, California, Bonanto relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1950. He lived in Nevada for 29 years and worked for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for 23 years. Bananto married Pamela Schofield Bananto.