Ben Yutaka Mayeda

Ben Yutaka Mayeda Ben Yutaka Mayeda, age 83, passed away May 20, 2007 at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He was born the eldest of seven on June 4, 1923 in Othello, Washington, to Gempei and Kaneyo Mayeda. He spent his early years growing up in “Kibei” tradition, in Okayama, Japan. At age eight and unaccompanied, he was placed on a ship for the three week return trip stateside. After serving in the U.S. Army’s 3rd Battalion as a Quartermaster in Germany during WWII, he returned to Salt Lake City where he met Chieko Akiyama, whom he married on December 24, 1950 in Elko, NV. He played hard in his youth, bowled for many years, and heated up dance floors and cooled off slot machines with Chieko until her sudden death in April 1999. He managed the Eagle Laundry Co. in SLC’s old Japan–Town until its closure let him retire at the ripe old age of 55 and allowed him to play golf three times a week with his buddies, Ichiro, George and Jimmie. He was fun-loving, was always the life of the party and enjoyed spending time with his grandkids. Friends and family will deeply miss his humor, kindness and generosity. He is survived by his son, Craige, daughter, Shauna (Pete), son, Brian (Diana); grandchildren, Marcus, Monique, and Makendy; siblings, Ruth (Mac, deceased) Kiyono, Seattle, WA, Buster (Rose), SLC, UT, Jack (Nancy), San Francisco, CA, Mary (Michael) Mills, Snohomish, WA; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to Chieko, he was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Edna (Saburo) Nakahara, and brother, Jim. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, May 25, 2007 at the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, 211 W. 100 S., SLC, Utah. Friends may call upon the family from 10:45-11:45 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow at Lakeview Memorial Cemetery, 1640 East Lakeview Drive, Bountiful, Utah. A special thanks to the VA’s MICU staff for the exceptional care they provided during Dad’s last three weeks. Condolences may be shared at www.lindquistmortuary.com