Betty F. Yoshino March 1926 - August 2, 2017

Fumiko Yabuki was born in Houghton, Washington on March 4, 1926 to Japanese immigrants, Kameji and Haru. A friendly neighbor gave the 6 Yabuki children their “American” names, and thus she became “Betty.”

High school was interrupted by World War II, and the internment of the Yabuki family at the Tule Lake camp in California. The family chose to be released early by moving to an inland location — Weiser, Idaho, with a concentration of Japanese farmers. The Yabukis met the Yoshino family there, and Betty married Victor.

She moved with the Yoshino family to Eastern Washington in 1948 to build a family farm, evolving as “Yoshino Western,” “Yoshino Brothers” and “Crown Produce Company,” operating in Moses Lake, Quincy, Bruce and Othello, employing 800 people. The farm produced potatoes, onions, mint oil for Wrigley’s, and a variety of seed. The company innovated with “in-field / local” processing of potatoes.

After a fire destroyed the main processing plant, Betty worked at the Othello School District food service, and then worked 16 years at the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District. She was a dedicated member of the United Methodist Church, which closed in 2006. She enjoyed yardwork, quilting, crocheting, and dabbled in painting and needlework as well. She was a spunky, energetic soul with a love for hot pink and other bright colors!

Betty passed in her sleep August 2, 2017 in Oakland, California. She is pre-deceased by Victor, and her siblings Mary and Dick, and is survived by her sisters Rose and Shiz, and brother Ken, as well as her children Vic Jr of Buckley, Washington; Terry and wife Sue of Richland, Washington; and Linda and husband Mark Magers, of Oakland, California. Also surviving her: grandchildren / step-grandchildren: Michele and Rory (great-grandson Jackson); and Susannah, John and James.

A website has been created to celebrate her life, where you can post your memories: www.Never-Gone.com/Memorials/bettyyoshino

In memory of Betty, please be kind, do something spunky, and smile at a stranger today.

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation or the Old Hotel Art Gallery in Othello where Betty volunteered.