Mitsuko “Mitsie” Ohashi of Renton, WA passed away February 22, 2019, surrounded by her loving family. She was born January 5, 1919 in Fife, WA, the third oldest of eight children. She graduated from Fife High School in 1937, then attended Charette Costume Design School in Seattle, excited about her future. The start of World War II brought major changes. She and her family were relocated to the Puyallup, WA Fairgrounds before being sent to Minidoka Internment camp in Hunt, ID. She was married to Jack Ohashi in Twin Falls, ID on January 13, 1943. They relocated to St. Paul, MN where Jack was stationed at Camp Savage and Fort Snelling (Military Intelligence Service, U.S. Army). They moved to Chicago in 1948 before relocating to Mundelein, IL in 1957. The couple’s final move sent them back to Washington state in 1968. By this time, Mitsie and Jack had three children. A five-day family road trip ended at their new home of Renton, WA.

Mitsuko held a variety of jobs during her lifetime. Early on, she worked tirelessly on the family farm, struggling to keep up with her brothers. Later, she worked as a live-in housekeeper, office worker, seamstress, and aerospace assembly specialist for the Boeing Company. The latter she started at the age of 60 when most are eyeing retirement. Her last day at Boeing was February 28, 1990. She was 71. That’s remarkable, considering many of the jobs she performed were heavy labor. The work ethic she learned as a youngster was rewarded with two Employee of the Month honors at Boeing.

But of all the jobs she held in life, her greatest and most important job was, Mother.

Mitsuko is survived by son Byron of Renton, WA, daughter Lorayne (Richard) of Buckley, WA, and son Norm (Shelly) of Auburn, WA; six grandchildren, Abel (Sarah), Andy, Tiffany, Matthew, Scott, and Caroline; and two great grandchildren Esther and Jack; also, brother Elwell “Hachi” Kawasaki of Cupertino, CA. The list also includes many loving nieces and nephews in Washington, California, New York and Hawaii.

She was preceded in death by infant son, Russell Francis Ohashi in 1946, and her beloved husband Jack Ohashi, on June 18, 1992.

Family always came first to Mitsie. She was selfless, sacrificed everything for her family and always put the needs of others above her own. During her final years, each visit included genuine interest and concern about our lives, our travels, and the future. She always offered words of support, encouragement, and in some cases, worry. But above all else, throughout our lifetime she provided us the most important gift of all: the knowledge that we were truly loved.