Eleanor Sakota
Chiyemi "Eleanor" Sakota, 88 of Rexburg, passed away on December 15, 2011 at her home in Rexburg of natural causes.

Eleanor was born on June 7, 1923 to Kazuo and Masano Sasai in Seattle, Washington. The family soon moved to Los Angeles, California. Her mother died in 1936 when Eleanor was only 14. As Eleanor was the oldest, she became the mother to her 3 brothers and 1 sister and helped her dad take care of them.

When World War II broke out, her family was forced to leave their home and belongings in Los Angeles and traveled to the Japanese Internment Camp at Heart Mountain Camp in Cody Wyoming. On May 15, 1942 they boarded a train and traveled the back railways during the night and hid during the day. They lived in tar paper barracks with a pot belly stove to keep them warm. Eleanor worked in the mess hall at the camp to help pay for supplies. On July 25, 1944 the war ended and the family was released. They moved to Rexburg because their friends had been treated badly in L.A. Eleanor got a job as a waitress at the Rex Café, a local restaurant, and this is where she meant Kazuo Sakota
On May 5, 1945 they were married in Rexburg, Idaho. They had 5 children. Two of her brothers and sister moved back to California and one brother to Vancouver, Washington. She and Kazuo would take their children to California as often as they could.

Eleanor joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1964. She helped coach the Rexburg 8th Ward girl's softball and volleyball. She helped her husband plant and harvest potatoes. She loved to crotchet and listen to Japanese music. She loved to go to bowling tournaments with her husband, son Alan and grandson Brodi. She was a hard worker, loving mother and a great cook. On Feb. 10, 2009 their daughter, Carolyn, moved in with them to take care of them.
On July 4, 2009 Kazuo died of stomach cancer.

Eleanor is survived by her children, Kathryn (Jim) Laritz of Boise, Carolyn (the late Richard) Smith, Darwin (Wendy) Sakota, Alan Sakota, and Audrey Holden all of Rexburg, 15 grandchildren and 35 grandchildren, 1 brother Fred Sasai of California and four sister-in-laws Margie Sasai, Frances Sasai, of California, Mable Sakota and Marie Sakota of Rexburg.

She is proceeded in death by her husband Kazuo Sakota, parents Kazuo and Masano Sasai, brothers Hideo and Ted Sasai, sister Mary Shinoda and brother-in-laws Seiichi Shinoda, John Sakota and Kiyoshi Sakota, sister-in-law Michiye Nishara, son-in law Richard Smith, great-granddaughter Layton Robson, great- grandson Brandon Lee Beverley and nephew Sid Sakota.

Funeral services will be held Monday at the Sugar City LDS Gray Church on Main Street at 11:00 A.M. with Bishop Walter Deitz officiating. Friends may call at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, Sunday evening at 5:30 to 7:00 and from 10:00 to 10:45 prior to the service on Monday at the church. Burial will be at the Rexburg Cemetery.