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In memory of

Olav Liland

Edmonds, WA, USA

1933 - February 8, 2021

1933 - Feb 8, 2021

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Olav Liland, born in 1933, passed away peacefully on February 8th, 2021. He had just celebrated his 88th birthday at his Edmonds home nine days earlier. He was a kind, smart, and generous man who loved his family dearly.
Olav was an only child who left Norway in 1954 to attend the University of Washington, in Seattle, on scholarship. He graduated with honors with a civil engineering degree. He then stayed in Seattle and joined on with Morrison-Knudsen Construction (MK). While on holiday, he met his wife Kerstin the spring of 1959 at Green Apple Pie Café on Pike Street. At this time, Olav was working for MK, both in Alaska and Washington at his own request and he clearly had a love for Alaska from the start.
Olav and Kerstin wed on March 26, 1960 at the Glimåkra Church in Sweden.
The following year they had their first child, Finn. With Finn only three weeks old, they moved to Hawaii for a few months’ work project, then settled in their first home in Cooper Landing, Alaska. When Finn was two years old, they moved back to Sandnes, Norway.
Their stay in Norway was short lived. The Great Earthquake of 1964 brought them back to Alaska at the request of MK. He was a loyal employee of MK for almost 40 years, working on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and assorted military, and infrastructure projects. He also worked on projects in Hawaii, Idaho, and Texas. He was much respected by his peers and fellow coworkers.
Olav and Kerstin proceeded to have two more boys, Mark and Steve, who like their father have always had a strong love for Alaska.
Olav is survived by his wife Kerstin of 60 years, son Mark and his wife Kim, and grandchildren Chase and Brooke. Also, his youngest son Steve and his wife Janica and grandchildren Adam and Lucas. And, his oldest son, Finn’s wife Kyna and grandchildren Grace, Paige, Kinsey and Kacy. He was preceded in death by his oldest son Finn in 2016.
Olav will be greatly missed by all who knew him, including relatives in Sweden and Norway.
Olav loved adventure such as travel, skiing and sport fishing with his boys and thus, a celebration of life will be held for Olav later this summer in Alaska with the help of his sons.

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