Miyoko Sartori

Miyoko Sartori; wife, mother of three, and grandmother of six, passed away Tuesday evening in Clearfield, Utah, on March 26, 2019. She was 89.The daughter of Sagano and Tamekichi Funatsu, Miyoko was born in Kurume, Japan on December 1, 1929. She was married to Donald Max Sartori on September 1, 1959. They had three children; Cynthia, Anthony, and Kimiko. Miyoko was the oldest of five children. After the birth of her brother, Yoshiaki, the family moved to Korea. The family was completed with the birth of another boy, Katsuyoshi, and two girls, Kyoko and Kayoko. After moving back to Japan, Miyoko graduated from high school and completed two years of finishing school.Shortly thereafter, Miyoko met Don, an Airman in the United States Air Force. They fell in love, and Don even re-enlisted so that he could return to Japan and marry the love of his life. After giving birth to their eldest daughter, Cindy, and becoming pregnant with Tony, they moved back to the states from Japan. They first lived in California before ping-ponging between Michigan, Texas, Michigan again, Kansas, and then Texas again before returning to Japan for three years. Their first foray to Michigan was so Don could earn his Bachelor's degree and become a commissioned officer. But Michigan was more memorable due to the birth of Kim, the youngest and newest member of their family.After three years in Japan, they returned to the states and lived in Alabama, Colorado, and Kansas before Don retired as a Major in the United States Air Force. They then moved back to Colorado and bought a home in Boulder for act two. After the kids graduated from high school, Don and Miyoko moved to Hawaii for two years, before moving to Germany and then to the Netherlands, where he was an Accounting Professor for Boston University Extension. They then moved back to Hawaii for ten years as Don taught at the University of Hawaii in West Oahu. After Don's final retirement in 2001, they moved back to Colorado, and enjoyed spending time with family. In 2009, they celebrated their 50th anniversary with family from around the states and from Japan. Don passed shortly thereafter on March 12, 2010. Fiercely independent, Miyoko continued to live in her home for years before her children convinced her to move to independent living at Atria in Longmont, who we thank for their support. After two brief stays at Lifecare in Longmont, whom we greatly appreciate for their efforts, Miyoko was convinced to move in with her daughters. She ended up moving between Kim's home in Niwot, Colorado, and Cindy's home in Layton, Utah. Miyoko spent the last month of her life under the care of the wonderful nursing staff at Rocky Mountain Care in Clearfield, UT.Miyoko was an adored child, so much so that she was happily adopted by her parents at a very young age. They loved her so much that they moved to Korea to prevent her biological family from reclaiming her. They lived a privileged life in Korea as her father was an army officer. When she met Don in Japan, she must have cast a spell on him, because they both fell in love with one another. Don went so far as to re-enlist so he could return to Japan and marry the love of his life. In fact, Miyoko and Don were married three times: by Rev. Richard P tter at the Mito Lutheran Mission Church, in Mito-City, Japan; at the Japanese Consulate; and by the American Consulate. Miyoko put her finishing school skills to good use. She often made matching outfits for herself, Cindy, and Kim. She only used Tony as a mannequin for the sisters' clothes, much to his chagrin. She really hit her stride as an officer's wife. She participated in the Officers' Wives Bowling league and brought home trophies, taught Japanese tea ceremonies, and also taught Japanese flower arrangement. Miyoko's skills were even featured in various newspaper articles, and she was also published in Japanese magazines. Her fondness for writing extended beyond flower arrangement, and she told us that she had also written some short stories which were published. We never could read any of her stories as she did not teach us her native born language. The one Japanese word mom did say to us, repeatedly, was udasai. One would think this means I love you, but it really means bug off. But we knew that mom loved us - it was the little things - she always worked hard to keep us well-behaved on our cross-country trips by peeling oranges and cutting apple slices for us. Miyoko also loved her grandchildren dearly. Her first grandchild, Pierce, was born when she lived in Germany. It was about six months before she would hold him for the first time. When she was finally able to visit her son, Tony, and his family, she actually sidestepped him, who she hadn't seen in years, in favor of Pierce, Miyoko's first grandchild. It became obvious to all three of her children that they were playing second fiddle once Miyoko's grandkids were born. After her children left the nest, so to speak, Miyoko spent more time with a dearly beloved hobby, skiing. The passion began in her late forties and lasted into her eighties. In Europe, Miyoko once hopped a train to meet a friend in Germany to go skiing in the Swiss Alps, and she always seemed to either be gliding down icy slopes or preparing to do so; why else would she have Eldora Mountain Resort on speed dial? The older she grew, the more she lamented the possibility of ski resorts charging seniors for lift tickets when they used to be free. Even so, nothing could prevent her from skiing. She loved skiing so much that she would drive to Eldora by herself. And Miyoko's love of skiing has been passed onto her family. Jim, Kim, Lucas, and Bella even have a family tradition. In the Bridger's, there is a ski run called Crazy Woman. One day, Kim's family was skiing with Don and Miyoko. Well, Miyoko went speeding down the run and everyone started shouting Miyoko, Miyoko, Miyoko! To this day, every time Kim's family skies down Crazy Woman, they do a fist pump and shout Miyoko! Miyoko also had a keen sense of humor, which never stagnated. When living with Cindy and Bill, her son-in-law, he would joke with Miyoko and ask daily, Do I know you? Do you live here? What's your name? To which Miyoko would deadpan, I'm Miyoko, I live here. Just two months before her passing, while Bill was doing paperwork, Miyoko looked into his eyes and, with a serious expression, asked Bill, Do I know you? Do you live here? What's your name?, and then everyone burst into laughter after Bill's jaw dropped to the ground. Not even age could interrupt her wry wit. Miyoko will be dearly missed by all her children and their families; her eldest daughter, Cindy Burtts, son-in-law Bill, and grandchildren, Madison and Max of Layton, UT; her son, Tony Sartori, daughter-in-law Jane, grandchildren Pierce and Sequoia of Eureka, CA; and her youngest daughter, Kimiko Steiner, son-in-law Jim, and grandchildren Lucas and Isabella of Niwot, CO.A brief ceremony will be held at 10:30 am, June 17, 2019, at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. A brief inurnment service will be held the same day at 2:00 pm at Ft. National Logan Cemetery in Denver, CO, where Miyoko's cremains will be interred with her husband, Ret. Major Donald Max Sartori. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.