Aase R. Eikevik

Aase Eikevik, 85, a former resident of 119 Sunrise Blvd. N, of Rome, NY past away from natural causes at Sunset Nursing Home, Friday evening, January 9, 2015 with her family at her side. Aase had resided at Sunset Nursing Home for the past two years. Native to the capital city of Oslo, Norway, she was born March 20, 1929, a daughter to Ragnar and Tordis Jensen Evensen. Mrs. Eikevik attended elementary school and survived the World War II bombing of Oslo by the Germans. She and her mother fled to a farm village by the name of Skogn, in the northern province of Trondelag, while her father remained in Oslo to fight in the underground resistance. Norway would be under Nazi occupation for the next five years. During that time, Mrs. Eikevik graduated from the eighth grade and went on to work as a long distance telephone operator for the Norwegian Telephone Company. When the war ended, she and her mother returned to Oslo for a few years. Mrs. Eikevik had an aunt in States who insisted she come to New York as she could get her a job working as a kitchen maid for the Rockefeller family in Manhattan. At the time, the Rockefellers preferred to higher Norwegians for domestic help as they were known to be hard working and honest employees. Mrs. Eikevik got a working visa for one year with every intention of returning back to her homeland of Norway but her life's plan changed when she met, fell in love, and married fellow countryman, Arnie Eikevik. Arnie had left Norway after the war, sailed as a first officer and marine engineer in the Norwegian Merchant Marines; he immigrated to the states, and served in the US Marines Corps during the Korean Conflict. He now wanted to settle in NY and open a machine shop by the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Arnie and Aase married November 20th, 1954 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Bay Ridge had a large Norwegian population and they felt at home there. They had two children, a boy and a girl, moved Mrs. Eikevik's mother over from Norway and rented half of a 2 family home for 7 years until they bought a house on the south shore of Long Island. The Eikeviks raised their family in the town of Merrick and lived there 30 years. Mr. Eikevik was successful as an engineer and even manufactured parts used by NASA in space exploration. Mrs. Eikevik was a devoted mother and housewife for most of those years but when the kids got a bit older she took a part time job as a school mini bus driver for children with special needs, a job she much enjoyed. Mrs. Eikevik had many interests in the Arts and Music and had a beautiful singing voice. She shared her talent as a member of several local community theater and choral groups, and always loved singing hymns in her church choir. She was also very proud of her Norwegian Heritage and was a life time member of the Sons of Norway organization as well as a member of the Mohawk Valley Scandinavian Club, Utica NY. In 1990, the Eikeviks decided to leave the hustle and bustle of New York and move to the quiet, serene North Country. They loved the Adirondack Mountains and were no strangers to harsh winters having come from Scandinavia. Mr. Eikevik had grown up in a small ski town in Norway and when he found Turin, NY they bought the Highlands Lodge and Towpath Inn at the base of Snow Ridge Ski Resort. Aase Eikevik and her husband, Arnie will be remembered dearly by the North Country community as a friendly couple and very hospitable Innkeepers. They were active members of the Forrest Presbyterian Church in Lyons Falls, NY where Arnie served as an elder and Aase sang in the choir. When they retired in 2002 they moved to Camelot Village in Rome, NY. Mr. Eikevik passed away in September of 2003. Mrs. Eikevik is survived by daughter, Kristine, and her husband, Frank Scutaro and two grandchildren Sonja and Joseph Scutaro all of Constableville, NY as well as a son, Jack Eikevik of Rome, NY. Calling hours will be Sunday, January 11, 2015 between 5 and 8 pm at the Trainor Funeral Home, 143 Schuyler St. in Boonville, NY. Funeral services will be at the Forrest Presbyterian Church in Lyons Falls, NY and burial at the Turin Cemetery, Turin NY, both in the spring.