The following information has been taken from:
http://dennisraderbtk.blogspot.co.uk/2005/10/childhood-adolescence-adulthood-pre_30.html
Dennis Rader was born on March 9th 1945, in a quiet location at the corner of Kansas, Pittsburg (this was close to where Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri meet up). He was one of four children to be born to William & Dorothea Rader. Although Dennis was born in Pittsburg, he spent most of his childhood and adolescence in Wichita, as the family decided to move into the largest city of Kansas when Dennis was a young boy. Their home was located on N.Seneca Street, which remained as a Rader household until it was sold in 2005.
When Dennis was a child he appeared to be a just a normal average boy. He previously was apart of the boy scouts and participated in church youth group activities. He also attended the Riverview Elementary School, to which he was an average student, but with withdrawn tendencies. By his own admission, Dennis had said he developed fantasies about bondage, control and torture from an early age, while still in grade school. As he reached puberty, he dreamed of tying up girls and having his way with them. One of his favorite targets for his imaginary bondage was the Mouseketeer 'Annette Funicello'.
Dennis also admitted to killing cats and dogs when he was younger, by hanging them. He realized he had to keep his imaginary bondage, torture and death a secret from everyone. As no one knew he did all this when he was younger till he admitted it in his older years, it shows he did a good job of keeping this inner world a secret.
Those who knew Dennis on a personal level described him to be, a quiet and polite young gentleman who preferred to keep to himself. He was also describe to be a person that would think before he spoke and would always listen very carefully when spoken to, and would give you his full attention when he spoke. Dennis came across as not to be very socially active in school, he showed no interest into the music that was around in his times. One of his former friends describe him as utterly lacking in a sense of humor, but tending to be studious and focused.
In 1963, Dennis graduated from Wichita Heights High School. This is where he started his adolescence life. He started his career working at a grocery store, until 1965 when he decided to move away from Wichita to go to Kansas Wesleyan College in Salina, he only moved as this college was too far away from home to stay at home. Dennis was a below average student with poor grades.
In summer 1966, Dennis decided to join the US Air Force at the age of 21; apparently this was to avoid being made to go into the Vietnam War. Dennis firstly had to do his basic training, this was held at the Lack land Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. In order to do his Technical training, Dennis attended the Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita falls, Texas.
Dennis served four years in the Air Force, being stationed at Alabama in 1967, Pacific in 1968 and Japan also in 1968, this is apparently where he was finally stationed until the end of his Air Force career in 1970. He also spent some time in Korea, Greece and Turkey but the dates for these places are unknown.
Whilst working for the Air Force Dennis attained the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal. But It was believed that the time Dennis had spent in the Air Force on duty was unremarkable. Dennis mainly worked on the installation of antenna equipment, along with other tasks as well. He also achieved the rank of sergeant. One of his former associates from the air force had describe Dennis to be just one of the guys, just sort of blended in. It was a massive shock to this former associate when he found out Dennis was the 'BTK Killer' in 2005.
In 1970, Dennis returned to his hometown of Wichita, Kansas after actively being discharged from the Air Force; but still had to serve 2 years in the reserves.
In 1971, Dennis Rader (aged 26) had married a young lady by the name of Paula Dietz (aged 23) on May 22nd. Paula went to the same high school as Dennis and lived in the same area as him. By this time Dennis had a job working in a meat department of an IGA (Independent Grocers of Australia) Superstore and was also attending Butler County Community College in Eldorado studying Electronics, and Paula was a bookkeeper. Once married they decided to settle in a home located in the Park City, Not far from the Rader home in North Wichita.
In 1972, Dennis left the IGA superstore to work for Wichita's largest employer at the time, Coleman Co; a manufacturer of camping supplies.
In 1973, Dennis finished from Butler County Community College and earned an Associates (2 year) degree in Electronics. He also left Coleman and Co to work for a company called Cessna. This was a manufacturer of small aircraft's. Dennis then started his studies at Wichita State University. This would take Dennis six more years of night school to earn his degree. Late in the year of 1973, Dennis was let go the Cessna Company. He found himself in a low frame of mind, unemployed, unhappy and with times on his hands with nothing to do.
This is believed to be where Dennis slipped back into his old frame of mind of bondage, control and torture.
http://dennisraderbtk.blogspot.co.uk/2005/10/childhood-adolescence-adulthood-pre_30.html
Dennis Rader was born on March 9th 1945, in a quiet location at the corner of Kansas, Pittsburg (this was close to where Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri meet up). He was one of four children to be born to William & Dorothea Rader. Although Dennis was born in Pittsburg, he spent most of his childhood and adolescence in Wichita, as the family decided to move into the largest city of Kansas when Dennis was a young boy. Their home was located on N.Seneca Street, which remained as a Rader household until it was sold in 2005.
When Dennis was a child he appeared to be a just a normal average boy. He previously was apart of the boy scouts and participated in church youth group activities. He also attended the Riverview Elementary School, to which he was an average student, but with withdrawn tendencies. By his own admission, Dennis had said he developed fantasies about bondage, control and torture from an early age, while still in grade school. As he reached puberty, he dreamed of tying up girls and having his way with them. One of his favorite targets for his imaginary bondage was the Mouseketeer 'Annette Funicello'.
Dennis also admitted to killing cats and dogs when he was younger, by hanging them. He realized he had to keep his imaginary bondage, torture and death a secret from everyone. As no one knew he did all this when he was younger till he admitted it in his older years, it shows he did a good job of keeping this inner world a secret.
Those who knew Dennis on a personal level described him to be, a quiet and polite young gentleman who preferred to keep to himself. He was also describe to be a person that would think before he spoke and would always listen very carefully when spoken to, and would give you his full attention when he spoke. Dennis came across as not to be very socially active in school, he showed no interest into the music that was around in his times. One of his former friends describe him as utterly lacking in a sense of humor, but tending to be studious and focused.
In 1963, Dennis graduated from Wichita Heights High School. This is where he started his adolescence life. He started his career working at a grocery store, until 1965 when he decided to move away from Wichita to go to Kansas Wesleyan College in Salina, he only moved as this college was too far away from home to stay at home. Dennis was a below average student with poor grades.
In summer 1966, Dennis decided to join the US Air Force at the age of 21; apparently this was to avoid being made to go into the Vietnam War. Dennis firstly had to do his basic training, this was held at the Lack land Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. In order to do his Technical training, Dennis attended the Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita falls, Texas.
Dennis served four years in the Air Force, being stationed at Alabama in 1967, Pacific in 1968 and Japan also in 1968, this is apparently where he was finally stationed until the end of his Air Force career in 1970. He also spent some time in Korea, Greece and Turkey but the dates for these places are unknown.
Whilst working for the Air Force Dennis attained the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal. But It was believed that the time Dennis had spent in the Air Force on duty was unremarkable. Dennis mainly worked on the installation of antenna equipment, along with other tasks as well. He also achieved the rank of sergeant. One of his former associates from the air force had describe Dennis to be just one of the guys, just sort of blended in. It was a massive shock to this former associate when he found out Dennis was the 'BTK Killer' in 2005.
In 1970, Dennis returned to his hometown of Wichita, Kansas after actively being discharged from the Air Force; but still had to serve 2 years in the reserves.
In 1971, Dennis Rader (aged 26) had married a young lady by the name of Paula Dietz (aged 23) on May 22nd. Paula went to the same high school as Dennis and lived in the same area as him. By this time Dennis had a job working in a meat department of an IGA (Independent Grocers of Australia) Superstore and was also attending Butler County Community College in Eldorado studying Electronics, and Paula was a bookkeeper. Once married they decided to settle in a home located in the Park City, Not far from the Rader home in North Wichita.
In 1972, Dennis left the IGA superstore to work for Wichita's largest employer at the time, Coleman Co; a manufacturer of camping supplies.
In 1973, Dennis finished from Butler County Community College and earned an Associates (2 year) degree in Electronics. He also left Coleman and Co to work for a company called Cessna. This was a manufacturer of small aircraft's. Dennis then started his studies at Wichita State University. This would take Dennis six more years of night school to earn his degree. Late in the year of 1973, Dennis was let go the Cessna Company. He found himself in a low frame of mind, unemployed, unhappy and with times on his hands with nothing to do.
This is believed to be where Dennis slipped back into his old frame of mind of bondage, control and torture.