Emiko Aki Farnsworth

March 30, 2024- “So hard to say this..but my sweet, wonderful, adorable mom, Emiko Aki Farnsworth, has left this earth this morning. She just celebrated her 94th birthday and was telling us she was ready. She passed peacefully at home in her sleep! I am so grateful for all she has done for me. Her tenacity and strength resonated in her life as well as her faith in God! On several occasions she had spiritual promptings for her to help others! Acts of Service and dedication was her love language. I Love this beautiful lady and will cherish her forever!” ~Linda Van der Linde

On a small island in Japan, on March 21, 1930, Emiko was born to Tsuru and Naokume Aki. Life was not easy for this small petite woman, but her strength and courage kept her going. We have all been amazed at the stories she shared with us about her pet bull, the typhoon, living in Japan during the war, her adventures being married to an American soldier and coming to America.

Emiko was once asked, “ What is the worst experience you have ever had?”. She told us that when she was 19 when she gave birth to a beautiful little girl. The doctor took the baby away and never brought it back. She believed it was because she was married to an American. The doctor told Emiko she had never been pregnant and never had a baby. When asked about her happiest memory, she said it was when she adopted Linda at 5 days old. She weighed only 3 ½ lbs. The director of the orphanage told Emiko to pick another little girl, this one was going to die. Emiko went home and prayed like she had never prayed before. They took Linda home and after 2 months she had doubled her weight. Emiko knew she was going to live.

After they moved to America she had 2 more children, both boys. The first was Richard and the second was Harry. Her first marriage ended in a divorce. She took in laundry and mending to support herself and her children. One of her customers was John “Jack” Allen. Jack wanted to take care of Emiko and the kids. They were married for 20 over when Jack died.

When Linda was about 14, she had many friends who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her friends invited her to go to church and soon she wanted to be baptized. She asked her mom and Emiko said 14 was too young to choose a church. Linda told her “Joseph Smith was only 14 when God told him to start the church”. Linda got baptized and later both Jack and Emiko were baptized. The bishop of their ward at that time was Robert “Bob” Farnsworth. Little did she know that someday she would be his wife.

She loved to cook and entertain. One day a member of her ward asked her to do the refreshments for his daughter’s wedding. This led to her building her own catering business. Her life was full of love, service, dedication to family and determination to keep going no matter what – she could do it all!

Shortly after Emiko turned 92, Bob was having some fainting spells. They discovered he had colon cancer. After he came home from the hospital, Emiko wanted to prove that she could still do it all herself. Bob’s health was deteriorating fast so he moved to Colorado to live with his son Steven and his family. This left Emiko alone in the house. Lollie, a friend of the family moved in with Emiko while she was waiting for a home to be built. When she moved out, Kevin and Jackie took her place.

Kevin wrote a beautiful tribute to Emiko which included the following comments. “You were a strong and independent woman that fearlessly tackled adversity. You were an incredible wife, devoted to your faith and your story telling was mesmerizing. I'm grateful to spend so much time together and all the memories we shared were filled with love. At 94 years old, you lived a full life and I know for certain you passed away peacefully with no regrets. The last six months spending time with you daily, showering you with love and giving you comfort in your home with Jackie and Mochi are memories I will cherish forever

May you live on forever in the spirits and souls of all you have impacted. Your death is in the physical form but I’ll make sure to carry your love, energy and legacy throughout my life and future generations.”

Emiko was preceded in death by her parents, her son (Harry P), her husband’s Jack and Bob. She is survived by her son, Richard, and daughter, Linda, as well as various grandchildren, step-children and other loved ones. There are so many who have given their love and attention taking care of Emiko over the past few years. Thank you, Kevin (grandson) and Jackie who lived with and cared for her, for the past 6 months; Lollie (Jackie’s mom who lived with Emiko for a while) and her many friends who have given so much time and love in taking care of her. But most of all, thank you Linda, Brent and Nami!!!! Your love and care have been unsurpassed.