The father, who died when Reiulf was 7 years old, had been president of the Norwegian Chemical Industry Workers' Union and deputy mayor of the municipality.

He maintained a long-standing interest in Latin America and was appointed Norwegian ambassador to Chile in 1992, a tenure that lasted until 1996.

In later years, his memoirs and personal recollections related accounts of his own psychiatric problems and difficulties within the Labour Party.

His wife's background was part of the reason Steen was appointed Norwegian ambassador to Chile in 1992.

Via his step-daughter, he was father-in-law to Labour politician Raymond Johansen, who was Governing Mayor of Oslo.