Leif S.A. Eriksen

Leif Stig Anker Eriksen was born on October 5, 1924, in Copenhagen, Denmark. He died at age 88 on February 12, 2013 surrounded by his dear family. He was the devoted husband of Stella Stancheson Eriksen and the loving father of Paul R. Eriksen and Leif W. Eriksen.

Leif was a self-made man with a strong intellect who had the unwavering confidence to take risks. He launched his career as a precision craftsman tool and die maker by trade for 28 years. He later became a successful real estate investor and manager for 15 years before retiring at 63 so he could focus more on family and traveling among other passions.

His loved ones have many fond memories but the most poignant one is his love of traveling and filming his adventures to share with family and friends over the years. Thanks to Leif's savvy skills in videography, his friends and relatives have preserved many treasured memories of gatherings that they will cherish for years to come.

Leif grew up in Copenhagen but it wasn't long before the adventurer in him surfaced. He sailed off for Canada in 1953 to pursue a career and other ventures. It was in Toronto, Canada that he met his lovely wife Stella and the two married in 1955. The handsome and joyful couple moved to Southern California to start a family when Leif was 31-years-old.

According to sons, Leif and Paul, the "old Viking" loved to learn about and experience the world directly, traveling to far flung places in the Fiji Islands, the Australian outback, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Western Europe, Canada, Russia and China. He savored many of his adventures but favorite places he often spoke of were Interlaken, Switzerland and the Sarengetti Plain in Tanzania, Africa, both of which he traveled to with his lifetime best friend Erik Lundsgaard. Leif and his wife Stella also shared innumerable adventures such as riding on a camel in Egypt and traveling around the world with their two boys for a year.

Leif's family will miss his kindness, generosity and loving advice that he gave through the years. He always had time for his family above all else. His family was his life and he loved his children and grandchildren more than anything. His spirit will live on in his family for many years to come.

Leif is also survived by his daughter-in-law Helen Hunter-Eriksen and his loving grandchildren Trent Eriksen, Paul B. Eriksen and Briana Eriksen. He is preceded in death by his father Harald Henry Hannibal Eriksen, his mother Ketty "Kate" Nathalie Faith Petersen and his sister Jytte Hagen as well as a host of other relatives.

He was the best father that anyone could ever hope for, said Paul Robert who holds many wonderful memories of his father. Paul says his strongest is that, "He was a stern father, but always loving, showing us the world through his many travels, wishing us to follow in his footsteps, while encouraging us to go beyond."

Leif Walter says he holds a great appreciation for the "wealth of experience he bestowed upon my brother and I" through family travels. "He would take us on trips to various places steeped in history, culture and wonder," he said. "Be it the vast beauty of nature, the multitude of sights within California or encircling the globe country by country. Like him, I too am an explorer."

His family thanks the Lord for his kindness and love and that he lived such a blessed life.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate his life on February 23 at 11:30am at Forest Lawn Covina Hills followed by a reception and tree dedication at The Los Angeles County Arboretum Celebration Garden (at 301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007).

Those wishing to send flowers may send them to

Forest Lawn Covina Hills
21300 Via Verde Drive, Covina, CA 91724 - (800 204 3131)