Mitsuji "Mits" Abe

After a long, blessed life of 103 years, Mitsuji M. Abe passed away peacefully on April 24, 2018. Born in Seattle on June 24, 1914 to Chotaro and Shizue Abe, he was the oldest of four children. He attended the original Bailey Gatzert School and went on to graduate from Franklin High School. Throughout his life, he held a number of jobs such as working in the fish canneries of Alaska, harvesting sugar beets and potatoes in Idaho, working in a machine shop in Chicago, and helping in his family grocery store in Seattle’s International District.

During WWII, Mits was interned at the Minidoka Concentration camp in Hunt, Idaho. When he returned to Seattle, he took over his parents store, the Dearborn Cash Grocery Store and later purchased several apartment buildings. In 1948, he married Betty Chizuko Tanaka and had 3 children. In 1965, he relocated his family to the Skyway area and built a successful grocery store known as Skyway Foods IGA. He sold the store and retired in 1978.

In retirement, Mits and Betty traveled the world, and spent many winters in Kailua, Hawaii with their daughter and her family. Mits was always busy golfing, walking, babysitting grandchildren, and helping others on their house projects.

He is survived by his wife, Betty and their 3 children: Bruce (Janice) Abe, Jolene Chang and George (Susan) Abe; and 3 children from a previous marriage: Patrick (Phyllis) Abe, Joanne Fujimura, Gilbert (Judy) Imori, as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mits' family is extremely grateful for the excellent care he and Betty have received from Altancare Adult Family Home and the staff at Kaiser Permanente Hospice.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Japanese Baptist Church, 160 Broadway, Seattle. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Japanese Baptist Church, 160 Broadway, Seattle, 98122.

To view and sign the online guest book, please go to: www.butterworthfuneralhome .com