Bottum was born in Faulkton, South Dakota and was educated in the public schools of Faulkton.
His paternal grandfather, Henry C. Bottum, had been a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, his maternal grandfather, Darius S. Smith, had been a member of the South Dakota Senate and his father, Joseph H. Bottum, was also a member of the South Dakota Senate.
He attended Yankton College and the University of South Dakota (1920–1921).
He graduated from the law school of the University of South Dakota in Vermillion in 1927.
He was admitted to the bar in 1927 and commenced the practice of law in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1928.
Bottum was born in Faulkton, South Dakota and was educated in the public schools of Faulkton. His paternal grandfather, Henry C. Bottum, had been a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, his maternal grandfather, Darius S. Smith, had been a member of the South Dakota Senate and his father, Joseph H. Bottum, was also a member of the South Dakota Senate. He attended Yankton College and the University of South Dakota (1920–1921). He graduated from the law school of the University of South Dakota in Vermillion in 1927. He was admitted to the bar in 1927 and commenced the practice of law in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1928.
Joseph H. Bottum