Susan Uchida

Susan Mukai Uchida

June 22, 1918 ~ September 21, 2015

MISSOULA, MT – Susan Mukai Uchida, 97, passed away peacefully on September 21, 2015 at the Village Senior Residence. She was born in Bostonia, CA on June 22, 1918 to Tasaburo and Fusae Tsujino Mukai. Susan graduated from Grossmont High School in 1935, and later graduated from Madame Jones School of Costume Design in San Diego, CA.

In February 1942, she was sent to an internment camp in Poston, AZ. She left the camp on December 25th for San Antonio, Texas, where she joined her fiancé Kenichi Uchida, and was married on December 30, 1942. After the war was over, they moved to Ogden, Utah in 1946 where Susan attended Stevens-Henagar Business College. She worked for Defense Depot Ogden Supply Branch and retired in 1980.

Susan was an active member of the Ogden Japanese Christian Church, and spent many years as a Sunday school teacher. She served on the church board, was a member of the choir and managed the visitation of members and friends in retirement and rest homes.

Susan loved to golf and ski with her family and the Nordic Valley bunch. Her active lifestyle continued into her ninth decade, having a great passion for gardening and walking.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ken; parents, Tasaburo and Fusae; brothers, Tom and wife Nobie, Cromwell and wife Kyoko, and Abe and wife Helen. She is survived by her sons, Don (Patty) of Ogden, UT and Jay (Maria) of Seattle, WA; daughter, Julie of Missoula, MT; brothers, George (Eugenia, deceased) of New York, NY and Henry (Eunice) of Los Angeles, CA.  Four grandchildren, Kira and Amiko Uchida, Sarah Oeltjen, and Andrew Ackley, and many nieces and nephews also survive her.

A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.  Friends may visit family on Saturday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.  at the mortuary. A burial service will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation in Susan’s name be made to a charity of your choice.

The Family would like to give a heartfelt thank you to the staff at the Village Senior Residence, Hospice of Missoula, and the Harvest Home Care for giving exceptional care to our mother, especially during her final days.