Yukie Lansdale

Yukie Sakai Lansdale, aka ‘Aunt Betty', a long time resident of nearby Long Beach, died Thursday the 18th of January at St. Joseph's Hospice.  She was surrounded by her loving family.
Born in 1929 in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan, to Kensaku and Shige Sakai, Yukie was the eldest of 3 children.  She and her family endured and survived the hardships of World War II and came out wizened by the experience.  In the mid-fifties, while attending the University of Tokyo and working part-time at a laundromat in Yokosuka near the U.S. Naval Base there, she would eventually meet and marry a young sailor, T.S. Norwood Lansdale, aka ‘Tom'.  As their story goes, Tom would take his uniforms in for dry-cleaning and Yukie would ‘keep' any money she found in them!  One thing lead to another and in August of 1956, they were married.
In 1961 Yukie with her first two sons, William and Tom in tow, boarded a ship for the United States to join up with her husband, never to return to Japan.  After a year in Southern California, the family moved to Oklahoma where from 1962-1966, she would raise 4 boys with the help of her extended American family while her husband was away serving in Cambodia and Vietnam.  Upon his return, Tom packed up the family and moved overseas as directed by the U.S. Navy.  Over the course of the next 7 years, the family lived and adventured in Australia and Hawaii before eventually moving to the Gulf Coast and, ultimately, Long Beach where they would call home and raise their 4 sons.
In 1977 she began working for the Naval Construction ‘Seabee' Base Commissary eventually earning her way to becoming ‘Head Bagger.'  For the next 40years up until her passing, she faithfully executed her weekly duties in that role becoming known and beloved by all that met her.  She loved her job!
Her life was extremely challenging after arriving in the U.S., overcoming countless obstacles along the way including:  learning to speak English, teaching herself to drive, working a variety of jobs over the years to help make ends meet, never complaining and, endearing herself to anyone, friend or family, she would ever encounter.  A faithful wife, unparalleled mother and better person, she gave much more than she ever received.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Tom Lansdale; four sons:  William and his wife Carla, Tom and wife Rose, Eugene and Richie, and; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.  She will be dearly missed and never forgotten. There will be a small, family only gathering to celebrate Yukie's life afterwards.