Obituary - Toshiko "Toshi" Ito

Toshiko "Toshi" Ito, age 94 passed away peacefully March 27th, 2024, surrounded by her family.

Cremation has taken place and services will be held on Friday August 2nd at Holland and Bonine Chapel.

Toshi was born February 3rd, 1930, in Havre Montana to Tomiechi and Hana Hamaoka.

Toshi lived the majority of her life in Havre with her husband of 57 years, Robert. She loved to collect recipes, cook, tend her garden and flowers, visit with her family, and be a "mom" to everyone she knew. She graduated from Havre High School where she met and kept many lifelong friends. Among them, her very dear friend Pat Kinholt.

Toshi enjoyed attending many activities and gatherings in the community, and always loved outings to the Bear's Paw mountains for fishing, picnics, picking chokecherries to make wine, or just to be outside.

Toshi was proud of her Japanese-American heritage. Her grandparents immigrated to the United States and are buried at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Havre. Toshi spoke fluent Japanese, cooked delicious Japanese foods, and conversely, the best southern fried chicken in the world. She practiced many traditional customs, and her house was full of a delightful mix of American and Japanese décor.

Toshi is preceded in death by her husband, Robert; parents, Tomiechi and Hana Hamaoka; sisters Yuki Shinabara and Martha Umemoto.

She is survived by brothers, Art Hamaoka and Henry Hamaoka; sister Sayo Furukawa; sons, Roger (Lael) and Steve (Nicole); daughter, Linda; grandchildren,Tyler, Lisa, Troy, Connor, Lane, and Logan Ito.

A memorial service will be held at:

Holland and Bonine Funeral Home

August 2, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

Lunch following the service at the Eagles, approximately 12 noon

In lieu of memorials, Toshi would have wanted people to do something kind or help someone in need.