Esther Mitsuko Fukushima Oka

Esther Mitsuko Fukushima Oka

January 22, 1920 a€" August 30, 2011

SOUTH OGDEN a€" Esther Mitsuko Fukushima Oka, 91, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, August 30, 2011. Esther was born on January 22, 1920, in Fresno, California. She was the daughter of Reverend Joseph and Ruth Hide Fukushima. She graduated from Montebello High School and Pasadena Junior College in California. Esther was a member of the Ogden Japanese Christian Church.

Esther married Art Takahashi on February 27, 1943. Art was killed in Italy during WWII in 1945. Esther moved to Utah with her parents when her father became the Reverend for the Ogden Japanese Christian Church. She married Makio (Mike) Oka on November 4, 1949. They lived and raised their family in South Ogden and were well known for their vegetable garden. Mike passed away in 1988.

Mom was hard working, kind, loving, and courageous. She worked part-time as a beautician and retired from IRS in 1988. Mom was always busy with projects, sewing, knitting, quilting, cooking and gardening. Her green thumb could make anything grow, from her vegetable garden, to her mushrooms, to her beautiful orchids. Her adventurous soul took her around the world and skydiving at the age of 74.

Esther is survived by one son and four daughters; Ken Oka, Lake Forest, CA; Jeanne (Scott W.) Wayment, North Ogden; Janet (Hal) Torman, Uintah; Joan (Mike) Hesley, Layton; Teri Mitsie Oka, South Ogden; nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ruth Takahashi and Irene Kataoka and one brother Samuel Fukushima.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, three brothers, one infant sister, and one granddaughter.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, September 3, 2011, at 11 a.m. at Lindquist''s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd., with Reverend Jill Minnoch, officiating. Friends may visit family on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist''s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.

Special thanks to Anne Russell for her loving care of mom over the years, and Lea and Tiffany of Applegate HomeCare and Hospice.