Bernt Bodal

Bernt spent his childhood on the outskirts of Oslo building ski jumps and lifelong friendships. He also spent many years participating in ‘Speider’ (Norway’s Boy Scouts) with his father and brother, discovered his joy in tinkering, and picked up his love for playing the guitar. Music was one of the hallmarks of his life and upon finishing high school, he spent much of the 1970s touring around Norway playing bass guitar with his band Høst, who he continued to jam with until his final weeks of life.

Bernt met Elisabeth Bang at the young age of 18 and they were later married in July 1978 in Svolvær, Norway. A month later, the two of them packed up their then small life and moved to Seattle to follow family members that had emigrated from Norway to find prosperity in the Alaskan fishing industry. This kicked off the start of Bernt’s real life American dream. Bernt worked hard as a deckhand on a crab boat, quickly moving his way up the ranks to mate and eventually captain of a factory trawler, spending months at a time fishing the waters of the Bering Sea in Alaska. In 1991, he made his way off the ocean and into an office as he embarked on his journey with American Seafoods Company.

During his 25+ years with American Seafoods, Bernt served as CEO and majority owner and was a pioneer and visionary of the Alaska seafood industry. He even had a stint on the show Undercover Boss, which highlighted his trademark generosity and his passion for the fishing industry. Although he stepped back as CEO in 2018, he continued his involvement serving as a board member. He was known to play his guitar at company events and in his later years, directed his focus on his love for music, playing with his bands Høst and Aunt Mary, He also became involved with the Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp where he forged friendships with musicians from around the world. He was even inducted into the Camp Hall of Fame in 2025, a proud moment in his music career.

During their 30-year marriage, which ended in 2008, Bernt and Elisabeth welcomed three children and planted deep roots in Seattle and with the local Norwegian community. Together they built a successful business in American Seafoods, supported numerous charitable organizations and created a beautiful, prosperous life for their family. Bernt became a grandfather in 2013 and loved sweeping into town to see his three grandchildren in Seattle or golf with them at the Madison Club in La Quinta, California. Bernt found love again later in life with Michelle Fox and they were married in March 2023 after several years together. Michelle was a loving, devoted partner to Bernt, standing by his side and caring for him until his last days.

The Fall of 2022 brought a devastating cancer diagnosis, but Bernt did his very best to not let this slow him down or burden anyone with the reality of what he was facing. Between cancer treatments, he travelled the country and the world to golf in La Quinta, spent time with friends new and old in far-flung locales and played the bass as much as he could with his many musical friends. He was an eternal optimist and this positive spirit surely helped energize and carry him through his cancer journey to the very end. He spent his final weeks doing what he loved most - celebrating Christmas with his children and grandchildren, skiing in Norway with his wife and friends and playing shows with his bandmates across Norway.

To say that Bernt lived life to the fullest is an understatement. He packed more into his 72 years than most can do in two lifetimes. He loved to learn new things and meet new people. He loved to collect things including guitars, cars, wine, friends, experiences and way more electronics and gadgets than one person could possibly need. He had a love for aviation and got his private jet and helicopter pilot’s licenses, which he used extensively to fly himself, family and friends around the world. He was constantly traveling (the man could not sit still!) and meeting new, interesting friends.

Bernt is survived by his three children Thomas Bodal, Ellen Medley (Scott) and Alexander Bodal, grandchildren Katherine, Henrik and James Medley, wife Michelle Fox, stepchildren Alex and Avery Fox, mother Randi Aulie, brother Trond (Debbie) Bodal and a large extended family in Seattle and Norway. He is preceded in death by his father Rangvald Bodahl.

Bernt’s large presence is missed tremendously, but he will always be remembered for his zest for life, his accomplishments in business and music and his unwavering generosity and love for his friends and family. In true Bernt spirit, a celebration of life and music will be held in Seattle in the coming weeks; details to confirmed. Please honor Bernt’s life by taking the trip, making the phone call, or just showing up for the ones that you love. He wouldn’t have it any other way.