Miyo Ota

Sad news, I'm sorry that I can't make it home for the funeral. Miyo was always very caring and sweet, and practically a professional bingo player. I've never seen anyone else so passionate about that bingo! She also loved going to Jackpot - I remember wandering around the casino after midnight one time and finding her on the dollar slots with buckets of coins around her. Always innocent, she obliged when I told her that we should cash all her (heavy) buckets in for something she could securely stick in her purse. And the funny thing was, when I returned with her paper winnings, she forcefully tipped me! Haha! She made the best teriyaki chips, and I regretfully never did learn from her exactly how to make them, though I luckily do still have the recipe. Hopefully I can decipher her handwriting. I'm also thankful for the beautiful rice bowls she gave us years ago, and will think of her fondly every time I use them.

Miyoko 'Miyo' Sumida Ota

POCATELLO - Miyoko "Miyo" Sumida Ota, 91, Pocatello, died Monday, January 28, 2008, at a local medical center. She was born May 9, 1916, at Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Wajiro and Yoshiko Ishii Sumida. She married Joseph Noboru Ota in September 2, 1944, and they were later divorced.

She had worked for food service and housekeeping for Idaho State University. She was an avid bingo player. She enjoyed going to Jackpot, fishing, playing cards with her very good friend, Carolyn Ray, and crocheting dish cloths. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

Miyo was an active member of the JACL. She was also active in association of Sister City. She is survived by a son, Philip (Connie) Ota of Pocatello; a daughter, Kathi Rivera of Pocatello; three grandchildren, Chris Harada, Hollie Ota and Cassie Ota; two great-grandchildren, Akima Harada and Tayvin Siebert; and a sister, Susie Okimoto of Gardena, California. She is preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Martha Shimamoto, a brother, George Sumida, and a grandson, Aaron Siebert.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 2, 2008, at 2 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church, corner of 15th Avenue and Clark Street, Pocatello, with the Rev. Eric Brown conducting. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday evening and one hour prior to services in the church Saturday. Interment will be in the Mountain View Cemetery, Pocatello.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cornelison-Henderson Funeral Home, 431 N. 15th Ave., Pocatello.

Published in the Idaho State Journal on 1/30/2008.