Machiko McMasters, 77

Mariko, as she was fondly known by her friends, “went peacefully to her heavenly home” May 8, 2015, with loving family by her side.

 She was born on March 6,1938, the sixth of nine children to Tatsujiro Otsuka and Chitose Sato, in the small mountain village of Manji, situated on the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan. She finished her schooling when her family moved to the coast so her father could open a shop to make watches and jewelry.

Mariko took a housekeeping job for an American couple living on a U.S. air base in Misawa, Japan, where she met an American sergeant named Daniel McMasters. After a three year courtship spanning three continents, they married on Aug. 3,1960, in Darmstadt, Germany, where Daniel was stationed. They shared a wonderful life together for more than 55 years. Mariko was a loving and caring mother who raised three children with Daniel.

Mariko retired from the food service industry when she and her husband came to Columbia Falls in 1989. She enjoyed square dancing, knitting beautiful sweaters, and playing bingo with her many friends from the Loading Dock, Eagles, Moose Lodge and Senior Citizen Center. She also enjoyed participating with many friends from her husband's membership in the Flathead Valleyaires Barbershop Chorus.

She is survived by her husband, Daniel McMasters; daughter, Jane McMasters; son, James McMasters; grandsons, Danny and Justin; sisters, Yoko, Eiko, Hisako and Yuko; and brother, Osamu; with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews back in Japan.

Mariko was preceded in death by her mother, Chitose Sato Otsuka; father, Tatsujiro Otsuka; sons, Samuel McMasters and John McMasters; daughter, Rebecca McMasters; brothers, Hiroshi and Takumi; and sister, Chieko.

A private graveside ceremony will be held at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery and an open celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, at the United Methodist Church in Columbia Falls.

Attending these ceremonies will be Takeshi and Yumi Honda, the children of Mariko’s closest sister and brother-in-law, Hisako and Teruo Honda.

To send a note of condolence, please visit www.buffalohillfh.com.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.