Leif Lie was born on August 11, 1920 to Sjur and Marta Lie in Tysse, Norway. He lived on the ocean and loved it. He loved to be on the water, boating and fishing. That love continued his entire life. During World War II Leif served in the Norwegian Merchant Marine. While at sea, he received a letter from Kiatcha Dahle, a college student who was studying Norwegian. The letter had been saved for a year by its original recipient but was given to Leif who decided to answer it. Kiatcha and Leif began to write and eventually Leif decided he was going to marry Kiatcha. With his "I think I can" determination, he succeeded in that endeavor. Leif married Kiatcha on October 23, 1948. He put himself through the University of New York by taking photographs which Kiatcha tinted with oil paints. After graduating from the New York University with a degree in meteorology, Leif began a long career with the U.S. Weather Service (NOAA). He worked in Chicago, Illinois; Albany, New York; and finally in Anchorage and Juneau, Alaska. In 1973 Leif became the Meteorologist in Charge of the Juneau Weather Service where he worked until he retired in 1999 after 44 years of service. Leif and Kiatcha had two daughters, Linda Kathrine and Martha Ingeborg. Leif enjoyed making people smile. Somehow he always succeeded – even with people who were grumpy or sad. Leif received many awards. Most recently in November 2011 he shook hands with the King of Norway in Kristiansand. He and other Norwegian Merchant Marines were honored for their service during World War II. The Malaspina (from the Alaska Ferry System) carries a plaque thanking Leif for his dedication in marine forecasting. Former Juneau mayor Jamie Parsons declared March 10, 1993 to be "Leif Lie Appreciation Day" in recognition of Leif's skill in avalance forecasting. Leif believed much of his knowledge of avalance behavior was learned while he hunted fox as a young boy. He said, "I watched the foxes. They never got caught in an avalanche and neither did I. But I caught the foxes."Leif was an active member of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Juneau. He also was a member of the Sons of Norway. Leif always used his "I think I can" attitude to learn new things. He bought a car and then learned how to drive. He bought an airplane and then learned how to fly. Leif died on March 8, 2012 following a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Kiatcha; daughter Linda Kathrine Lie Ancell and husband Paul; daughter Martha Ingeborg Lie Coning and husband Robert; sisters Agnes Stenersen and Randi Kulild of Norway; ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Nils Lie, and his sisters Ceselie Herfindal and Margit Dagestad. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 3:00 pm at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Juneau. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the MV Christian. Checks may be made to Alaska Synod – MV Christian and mailed to Alaska Synod – ELCA, 1847 W Northern Lights Blvd. #2, Anchorage, AK 99517.