Ryan was born May 28, 1956 to Hardy Harding Sandvig and Helen Elizabeth "Betty" Sandvig in Great Falls, Montana. He was raised in Fort Benton, Montana and graduated from CM Russell High School in Great Falls, MT. He went on to earn a degree in art education from Montana State University in 1978. He married Suzanne Howard-Sandvig on November 27, 1982.

Ryan started his flying career operating a small aviation company in Fort Benton, Montana (1982 - 1986). He went on to fly for Evergreen Aviation as a Boeing 727 captain out of McMinnville, Oregon (1986 - 1989). Ryan and Suzanne's three daughters were born during the family's time in McMinnville.

He went on to a 26 year career with UPS ( 1989 - 2015), serving as a Boeing 757/767 captain. He retired in 2015 to pursue his many passions: time with family, golfing, art, fly fishing, snow skiing, pheasant hunting, helicopter flying, and flying his float plane with Suzanne and their dog Ruban. He was a devoted grandfather to his five grandchildren.

Ryan was a family-oriented, self-made man who was generous, hardworking, competitive, honest, disciplined and had a deep faith. He had many diverse interests, passions and talents and sought to be the best at everything he set out to do. He lived a full life, leaving a legacy and many loving memories for his daughters and grandchildren.