Mitsu Ann Ogami

Mitsu Ann Ogami
Chapter 1
(Coming to America)
 Mitsu Ann Ogami (Toyoda) was born on Feb. 9, 1929, in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
 During the war years, she often recalled the need to be frugal. Food, clothing, and all consumer products were difficult to obtain.
 During the occupation years, the Toyoda family hosted the Anderson family. Mr. Anderson was an executive of the American Red Cross. His daughter Shirley and Mitsu became best friends and often referred to each other as sisters.
 Shirley shared her love of America and adventure with Mitsu and a scheme was hatched for the Andersons to host Mitsu when they returned to America. Challenging conversations were held and eventually Mr. Toyoda relented. Mitsu would travel to Seattle, Wash., attend school, stay with the Anderson family, and return home in one year.
Chapter 2
(Courtship and
marriage)
 During that eventful year, three young men saw Mitsu entering a Seattle department store. One of the men was a Seattle native living in Weiser, Idaho. He told the others, “I am going to marry that girl.”
 The race was on to learn her name, arrange an introduction, and make the Weiser-Seattle drive every
week to court Mitsu. She eventually said yes to marriage, but Jack never stopped courting Mitsu.
 The wedding took place on Aug. 5, 1954 in Seattle. They honeymooned on the coast and made their first home in Weiser renting a bungalow where McDonalds now stands.
Chapter 3
 (Children and home)
 Christina was born in June 1955, Marie in September 1956, Jack Jr. in February 1958, and Roger in June 1960.
 Shortly after Marie was born, the family moved to a large, old house on Commercial Street.
 Mitsu learned to manage a large house. One of the first tasks was cooking. In Japan the family maid did all the cooking. Mrs. Gibbs (trusted friend and neighbor) volunteered to teach Mitsu all she knew about cooking. Savory dishes abound and people from Montana would feel right at home (Mrs. Gibbs
was from Montana).
 Mitsu’s father was in the construction business and it wasn’t long before she convinced Mr. Gibbs to teach her how to re-shingle a roof (two story house), interior/exterior painting, laying tile, and fixing plumbing.
 Her garden was bountiful and she had a large area for lavender/purple Iris. These were reserved for the St. Agnes Church. On Friday afternoons before the kids returned from school, she decorated the church alter and eventually was asked to join the Parish council.
 In the early 1960s Mitsu convinced Jack to teach her how to drive as the kids were starting school. Car pools, PTA, classroom mom, chili chowder carnival chair, swim team, diving team, and Girl Scout leader were a few of the many roles she gladly volunteered for.
 She taught her Girl Scouts how to dance, arranged for summer day camp on the Kirk Ranch and Memorial Park, and made sure every girl could attend summer camp by selling Girl Scout cookies.
Mitsu’s relatives in America:
 Jack passed away June 15, 2015. He celebrated his 98th birthday with Mitsu on Dec. 14, 2020.
 Children and grandchildren: Christina Hutchinson (Edwin) of Shelbyville, Tenn., Michele and Danny;
Marie Young (Richard) of Weiser, Idaho, Stephanie and Dawn; Jack Jr. Ogami (Melody) of Salem, Ore., Erika and Ian; Roger Ogami (Shelly) of Boise, Idaho, Nicholas and Brock.
Mitsuko’s relatives
in Japan:
 Minoru - deceased, older brother and father of Yutaka; Kaneko - living, elder sister; Yasuko - deceased, younger sister; Hajime Toyoda - deceased, Mitsuko’s father, COO of Moriya Shokai Co., Ltd. (General ConstructionCompany) and member of Nagano City Assembly; Chika Kubota Toyoda - deceased, Mitsuko’s mother.