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Kjellaug Hjelvik Lieb
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Kjellaug Hjelvik Lieb (Jan. 17, 1938 to Jan. 20, 2022) passed away peacefully at her home.
Kjellaug, affectionately known as Molla, was one of six children born on the family farm in Vågstranda, Norway.
Before emigrating to America, Kjellaug worked as a nanny in Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden.
At the age of 19, she and a friend sailed to New York City on the Queen Elizabeth II. After returning to Norway, she found herself missing New York City, so she applied for an immigrant visa.
Upon her return to the US, she worked as a nanny in New York City, before being offered employment as a fashion model.
Kjellaug's fashion modeling soon led to some small acting parts in “Requiem For a Heavyweight,” “Car 54 — Where Are You?” and “Naked City.” Before long, she became a regular at Studio 54. She also made many friends in the UN diplomatic community and enjoyed attending many galas.
It was in New York City where she met her husband, Joseph Charles Lieb, a Madison Avenue advertising executive. They soon married and, in 1963, Kjellaug gave birth to fraternal twin boys.
Eventually the family moved to Southern California, where Joe ran his own Beverly Hills advertising agency while Kjellaug worked as a full-time mother. Joe’s advertising work took the family to the Northeast for four brief years before the family returned to Southern California, and then, one year later, the family relocated to Lake County, California.
Kjellaug joined Buckingham Realty as a salesperson in 1977, which led to her earning her broker’s license. In 1980, Kjellaug and Joe bought Buckingham Realty. Due in large part to Kjellaug’s boundless energy, ambition and tenacity, the business flourished.
During her 43 years in real estate, Kjellaug was one of Lake County's top Realtors. She was a long-standing member of the Lake County Association of Realtors and her knowledge and professionalism brought Buckingham Realty much business and accolades.
Described by some in the community as “a powerhouse of real estate,” she was also known for her thoughtful acts of kindness, often leaving bottles of wine and gift baskets for clients in their new homes.
Over the decades, she not only helped many people achieve the dream of homeownership, but she also helped people make those houses feel like home.
She retired in 2019 at age 81 and devoted herself to her beloved house and garden. Kjellaug enjoyed cooking (she was superb), country line dancing and following the latest fashions.
She will be remembered for the kindness and hospitality she showed family and friends near and far.
Kjellaug, daughter of Tordis Agnete and Knut Knutsen Hjelvik, widow of Joseph Charles Lieb, is survived by her two sons, Jonathan and Michael, her daughter-in-law, Maggie, and her siblings, Alf, Trygve and Reidun, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
At Kjellaug's request there will be no funeral or memorial service. Her ashes will be returned to her birthplace in Hjelvika, Norway.
Anyone wanting to send their condolences may email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
