Leif Sorenes

Leif Sorenes, 49, of Benton, left this world to be with his Lord and Savior on February 10, 2011. He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a nephew, a husband and a friend to so many. He was of the Catholic faith. Leif was born on October 13, 1961 in Bergen, Norway. His home was in Bomlo where he spent his childhood days. He never really left Bomlo until he married; he just ventured to many distant lands as a sailor, working on several different ships owned by Norwegian companies.
On one of those ventures, during Leif's younger years, he met his soon-to-be wife, Nhung Alexandria Nguyen, who had escaped Vietnam on a small ship with several other Vietnamese. As fate would have it, out on this large and vast Ocean, this small ship made contact with the Norwegian ship that Leif was working on, and the Norwegian ship rescued the Vietnamese refugees.
As a best friend I had many a conversation with Leif and I can still remember him telling me the story about this rescue. He said that he was helping to get the refugees off the small ship onto the Norwegian ship. In doing this, he was reaching down, taking the refugees' hands and helping them aboard. Leif said that when he reached down and took the hand of Nhung Alexandria, they looked into each other's eyes and at that moment, he began to believe in "love at first sight."
Leif and Nhung Alexandria dated for several years and finally joined as husband and wife. Although Leif moved to the United States to be with Nhung Alexandria and embraced this country as his own, his heart remained in Norway where his family continues to reside in Bomlo.
He leaves behind his wife, Nhung Alexandria Sorenes of Benton; his mother, Johanna and father, Trygve Sorenes of Bomlo, Norway; sisters, Aud Irene and Ingebjorg, both of Oslo, Norway and Froydis and Jofrid, both of Bomlo; brother, Torbjorn of Hoggason, Norway; two brothers-in-law, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins from Norway; and many, many, many friends both here in Benton and in Norway.
Visitation on Friday, February 18 will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the Rosary at 7:00, followed by Mass at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, 7th and Louisiana in Little Rock. On Saturday, February 19, the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., preceded by the Rosary at 9:30 a.m. at the Cathedral.
Leif, we all love you, and we will miss you. May the good Lord bless and keep you, and, Godspeed my friend!!
Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, (501)224-2200. Leif's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.