Mari Eike, 75, of Las Vegas passed away on December 22, 2014.

Mari was born on the beautiful Island of Tysnes in Norway on November 3, 1939 to the late Henny Konstanse Storetvedt, and Georg Magnus Lande. Mari was Henny and Magnus’ third child after her brother Tore, who died young, and her sister Greta.

Mari grew up in occupied Norway during World War II, with her father being away at sea for years at a time in the Merchant Marines. Her most vivid memories were of the rare times when her father would return with exotic gifts from all over the world, especially the magical appearance of an orange at Christmas time.

At the age of 8, Mari and her mother and sister immigrated to the Bay Ridge (Norwegian) section of Brooklyn, New York where she met her future husband, Roy Eike on her very first day in America. At that time, Mari spoke no English, but was in Honors English by the time she was in High School. Mari had many friends through her school years and enjoyed many of the same pursuits as any normal American girl of that era, including rock and roll, and a love for the music of Elvis Presley.

Mari and Roy were married in 1959. During this time, Mari worked as a secretary and part-time model in the New York buyer’s offices of Sears, Roebuck and Company. In 1960, their first son, Mark was born. Less than a year later, and only a few days after moving into their new apartment in Brooklyn, Roy was called to serve in the Air Force as a radar technician in Germany during the Berlin Crisis.

Mari and Mark spent the next year or so living with Mari and Roy’s parents until Roy’s return. In 1964, Mari and Roy had their second child, Brian, and in 1969, they had their third child, Ruth. During this period, the family moved out to Lynbrook on Long Island. In the 1970s Mari and Roy purchased a book store in downtown Lynbrook which Mari managed while Roy worked as a telephone technician in Manhattan.

In the 1970s, Mari and Roy took a vacation to Las Vegas and fell in love with the city and the climate. In 1979, Roy found a job in Las Vegas and moved the family out west. In 1986, the family moved once again to southern California for Roy’s work where Mari took a clerical job in the offices of Upland City Hall where she worked for many years.

Upon retirement, Mari and Roy moved back to Las Vegas to a brand new home in the Sun City retirement community. They had many friends through Roy’s work and golf, and through Mari’s involvement with St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church. They also enjoyed many visits with their children and grandchildren throughout their retirement years.

Roy died in July of 2014 at the age of 77. Mari is survived by her three children: Mark (Wendy), Brian (Susie), and Ruth. She is also survived by her three grandchildren: Kirsten, Kevin, and Katie, as well as her nieces and nephews Deborah, Haidee, Charlene, Tonia, Jonathan, and April through her late sister Greta.

The family will hold a small private ceremony in the near future.