ROBERT BJERKE Robert Edward Bjerke, "Bob," passed away July 20, 2012, at his home in Las Vegas. Bob was born in Valley City, N.D., the son of Emma and Henry Clayton Bjerke. He received his bachelors and juris doctor degrees from the University of North Dakota. He briefly served in the U.S. Navy during college. After graduating from law school, Bob took a position as a real estate attorney for Northwestern Airlines in Minneapolis, where he successfully negotiated with Chicago Mayor Daley and Senator Lynch to secure additional gate space at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Bob later took a position as a real estate attorney with the F.W. Woolworth Company overseeing operations in the midwest, and eventually the west coast, including Alaska and Hawaii. In 1963, after negotiating the development of an F.W. Woolworth store in Waikiki, Bob moved his family to Honolulu, and started his own company in order to pursue his love of commercial real estate development. He specialized in shopping center development on Oahu and the Big Island, developing the first enclosed shopping center in Hilo, Hawaii. He also developed housing in the Hawaiian islands. He later developed Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo. In addition to creating more than 1,200 jobs for the local community, Prince Kuhio Plaza provided the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, which benefits people of Hawaiian ancestry, with what was at the time the department's largest annual income from lease rent. Because of Bob's efforts and unwavering commitment to ensure that Prince Kuhio Plaza benefitted not only all the people of Hilo but also the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, he received special recognition from the Hawaii House of Representatives. During his years in Hawaii, Bob and his wife traveled extensively throughout the Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, and the Orient on business and pleasure. In 1971, after pursuing several commercial development opportunities in American Samoa, the Chief Justice of American Samoa bestowed upon him the privilege to practice law before the Courts of American Samoa. Bob was a proud member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, the Navy League, The National Council of Shopping Center Developers and his church. During his many years in Hawaii, Bob was an active member of Waialae Country Club and the Pacific Club. Bob considered his proudest accomplishment his marriage to Libby, their two children, Dr. H. Scott Bjerke (Janet) and Heather Dickinson (Mark) and his three grandsons, Chris and Henry Dickinson and Duncan Bjerke. Memorial services will be held at a later date in Honolulu when his ashes will be spread in the Pacific Ocean near his longtime home. Memorial contributions may be made to Nathan Adelson Hospice of Las Vegas, the Nevada School of the Arts, or a charity of your choice.