Michiko was born in Sapporo Japan on September 27,1929, to Tomeji and Tsue Takeuchi. She was the second oldest of five daughters, Ineko, Shoko, Yoko and Shizuko.

She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Ronald, and three sons, Richard, Kevin and Terry, and their spouses Linda, Darla and Yoshi, two grandchildren, Alex and Hannah and their spouses Mark and Matt, and two great grandchildren Olivia and Boe.

Mom came to the United States in the Summer of 1952 on a sponsorship to Phillips University, in Enid Oklahoma, to study voice training and music. This is where she and dad met. It was at a social event where dad got up the courage to help mom wash dishes, and the rest is history. From then on, mom always saved the dishes for dad.

In 1954, Mom had to leave Phillips University and go back to Japan, dad later returned to his home town of Pueblo Colorado. Upon his return he was notified of his obligation to serve his active duty in the U.S. Army. After basic training in Missouri, then Virginia, he was stationed in Germany as a Chaplin’s assistant.

The years seemed like an eternity, as he was always thinking about mom and how they could be together someday. In the Spring of 1959, he took a bus to San Francisco and hopped on a passenger liner to Japan for a 14 day adventure across the Pacific Ocean.

After arriving in Yokohama harbor, mom was waiting for him at the dock, and their lives together began.

They were married at the American Consulate in Sapporo, on June 1, 1959, and spent 6 months together, before returning to the U.S.. Upon their return to the States, they arrived in Seattle Washington, then on to Pueblo Colorado. They later moved to Denver where they spent the rest of their lives and raised three boys.

Mom continued singing in the Simpson Methodist church choir, as well as other chorale groups and private events. She had an awesome operatic voice.

Mom had a wonderful, and cheerful personalty. That personality fit perfectly to her love of making people feel good about themselves in the business of cosmetology. She spent over 40 years doing what she loved, working till the age of 80.

She also was a fierce cook. She would see a cooking show, or taste a dish in a restaurant, and want to figure out how to make it, then make it better. She loved to experiment with all different kind of foods, from traditional Japanese dishes to Italian pastas, and we were happy to be her test subjects and sample what she prepared. And after we were finished gobbling it down, she would light up with happiness and pride.

Mom was such wonderful lady to all of us, we were so lucky to have her in our lives. Too many fond memories to count, and a lifetime of love and joy instilled in our hearts.

We love and miss you Mom, and know you are here with all of us, now and forever.