Mae was born on May 4, 1921, in Torrington, Wyoming, the eldest of four children to Sashichi and Matsu Nochi. She grew up in Morrill, Nebraska, and graduated from Morrill High School. Mae met the love of her life, Yukio Sakurada, at a church camp, and they were married on February 12, 1945. Together, they raised two children, Richard and Linda, and farmed in Lyman, Nebraska.
A devoted partner, Mae worked alongside Yukio on the farm, keeping detailed daily journals of planting and harvesting schedules. Her strong faith was a cornerstone of her life. She was a devoted member of Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in Mitchell, where she taught Sunday School, participated in the church guild, and contributed her talents to the quilting group.
After Yukio’s passing in 2013, Mae moved to Denver to live with Linda and her family. In Colorado, she enjoyed cheering on the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Rockies and treasured her time with her great-grandchildren.
Mae is preceded in death by her beloved husband Yukio, her brother Ed (Ruby Saruwatari), and her sister Ruth (Jack Yoshida).
She is survived by her children Richard (Jane Ikeya) and Linda (Paul Ybarra), her sister Helen (Paul Okura), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and friends who were blessed by her kindness, faith, and unwavering love.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in Mitchell, Nebraska. Family and friends of Mae are warmly invited to attend. Graveside will follow at Sunset Memorial Cemetery, with a luncheon at Beecher Hall afterward.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Legacy of the Plains Museum or Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in Mitchell, Nebraska.
