Miyoko "Mickey" Smestad

     Miyoko "Mickey" (Hirose) Smestad (美代子) , 93, of Hatton, ND passed away September 15^th, 2020 at Hatton Prairie Village, Hatton, ND.

   Miyoko was born January 15, 1927 in Tokyo, Japan. She attended Ferris Women’s Private University (founded by Presbyterian missionaries) in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.  It was in Japan where Miyoko Hirose and Maurice Smestad (stationed in Tokyo at the Far East U.S. Air Force Headquarters during the Korean conflict) met and then married on March 16, 1953 in the Chapel Center, Tokyo, Japan.  In 1954 she had two more marriage ceremonies when the two traveled to the United States to live in rural Hatton, ND on the Smestad family farm.

   On April 10, 1960 Miyoko, along with 10 others, became a United States citizen in U.S. District Court where afterwards a celebration was given at the Grand Forks Elks Club, ND.

   Although she traveled back to Japan only once in 1995, Miyoko frequently spoke to relatives and friends while exchanging Japanese and American food and gifts to each other.

   Miyoko was a member of the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Hatton, ND and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hatton, ND.  As a devout Christian, she enjoyed bible study, church services and talking to her pastor/ministers.

   In addition to her faith, family, friends and running a farm household, she also had many talents including sewing, drawing, singing, and cooking.

   Survivors include her son: Jon (Kathie) of Faribault, MN and grandsons: Logan (Danielle), Kyle (Kyle T.); her son: Jack (Elizabeth) of Shoreview, MN, and granddaughter Cassidy and grandsons: Austin (Abigail), Ryan (Nicole), and great-grandchildren: Makenzie, Addison, Cody and Reagan.

   Preceded in death by her husband Maurice in 2014; parents: Fukutaro and Tameko; brothers: Masakozu and Seiji; sister: Sachie; sister-in-law: Kaiko and brother-in-law: Daiji.

   In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hatton Prairie Village or St. Johns Church, Hatton, ND.

Masks are recommended.

Visitation:  Will be 2–4 PM on Sunday, September 20, 2020 at the Baker Funeral Home Chapel in Mayville, ND and will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.

Funeral Service: 10:00 AM Monday, September 21, 2020 at St. John Lutheran Church in Hatton, ND.

Burial: Will be in the St. John Cemetery in Hatton, ND.