Bruce E. Eliasen
Mar 21, 1947 -
Sep 10, 2021
Bruce Eliasen passed away in Seattle, Wash., on Sept. 10, 2021, due to complications from COVID-19.
Born in 1947, in postwar Munich, Germany, Bruce was the proverbial baby left in a basket on the doorstep, with a note saying, "please care for this child, as we cannot." The Army Captain who found him immediately turned him over to a Catholic orphanage in the area where he was adopted by a U.S. Air Force officer, Arnold Clarence "Ace" Eliasen and his wife, Lillian. Upon visiting the orphanage, as the story goes, this 16 month-old child, who was suffering from malnutrition and rickets, chose them, and the deal was sealed. He became Bruce Edward Eliasen on Aug. 2, 1948.
The adoption opened a whole new world for Bruce, as the family was stationed many places, both domestic and abroad. Bruce's favorite station was in Iceland, where he would always remember sitting on Bob Hope's lap during one of his USO tours.
Ace retired from the Air Force in 1962, and moved the family to Seattle, where they built a lovely home on the bluff overlooking Puget Sound. Bruce attended Butler Junior High, then Shoreline High School, where he graduated in 1965 with honors, and the only student to qualify for a National Merit Scholarship. It was during his senior year that he met Birte Portier, class of 1966. Their first date, a ski date, occurred during the Christmas break of 1965 when they chanced to run into each other at the post office. Birte always wanted to thank the ski lift operator for hanging mistletoe at the base of the Seventh Heaven Chairlift at Stevens Pass. By the end of the day they had become very good friends, and the rest is history. They were married on Sept. 3, 1967.
Following their marriage, the couple moved to Albuquerque, N.M., where Bruce served out his Air Force enlistment at Kirtland AFB. Their first son, Jeff, was born in March 1970, just prior to Bruce's discharge in July. They returned to Seattle and settled into a home in Bothell, Wash. Bruce enrolled at Seattle University, where he earned his business degree in accounting, graduating suma cum laude in 1973, just prior to the birth of their second son, Kevin.
Bruce began his accounting career with Peat, Marwick Mitchel - now KPMG - one of the then "big-eight" firms, where he became a CPA. He enjoyed the work, but not the travel. He then was offered an accounting job at United Nuclear Industries in Richland, Wash., but found that government accounting offered no challenge. Moving back to Seattle, he accepted the position of Business Manager at the Law Firm of Foster, Pepper and Riviera. That job was fun as well as challenging. The partners offered to put him through law school, but by then, his real focus had become accounting in the private sector.
Bruce's next job search led him to Alaska, where one of his former KPMG managers told him that a client, Hickel Investment Company, was looking for a controller. Following a series of interviews, Bruce was offered the job, and the family moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in June 1977. Bruce remained with the company for 37 years, retiring as Chief Financial Officer in December 2014. He continued to serve as an advisory member to the Executive Board until his death. He also had a small private tax practice which kept him up to date on tax codes, and busy from January through April after he retired.
Bruce was an Eagle Scout, CPA, CMA. He loved skiing and fishing. He was a charter member of the Anchorage chapter of Financial Executives Institute, a member of the Institute of Management Accountants, Chairman of the H.E.R.E Pension Trust Fund, member of Alpha Sigma Nu, Past Exalted Ruler of Anchorage Elks Lodge #1351, Treasurer of Anchorage Emblem Club #329 and a longtime member of Central Lutheran Church.
Bruce was a big man with a big voice and a huge heart. He read at least a book a day, and remembered everything he read. He loved to travel, and was saddened when a long-awaited Iceland trip was canceled due to the pandemic. Friends will always remember the famous international music parties at his home, with the musicians in the music room with Birte and the politicians gathered around the kitchen island with Bruce.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Ace and Lil Eliasen. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Birte; sons, Jeff (Jessica) Eliasen and Kevin (Jillian) Eliasen; three grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; and a host of family and friends, stateside and abroad.
No service has been planned at this time. It is the hope of the family that we can hold a celebration of life in the spring. If you wish to make a donation in Bruce's memory, please consider a local food bank, any organization that supports our Veterans, Special Olympics Alaska or the charity of your choice.
A Legacy Page has been created in Bruce's memory. You can view this page at https://funerals.coop/obituaries/bruce-edward-eliasen.html.
