Helen Hideko Mitchell

On Thurs., Feb. 3, Helen Hideko Mitchell, loving mother, and wife, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 at Brookdale Olympia West Memory Care.

Helen was born in Yokohama, Japan in 1930 to Masauemon (captain of a Japanese Navy transport ship) and Otaka Mizubayashi (hospital nurse). She had an older brother, Masahiko Mizubayashi who preceded her in death, and Judy Sachiko Lensegrav, who also preceded her in death.

The three siblings shared many good memories together and had a good life before WWII began. She recalled the numerous air attacks and sirens going off where they had to go underground for safety, barely surviving on small food rations. Life was good up until then and soon after became worse after the collapse of the government.

After the war, the family struggled and she had to work hard to help with the family expenses. One day her brother Masahiko (interpreter for GHQ) introduced her to a tall, red-headed Texan stationed in Yokohama (James Lee Mitchell) who then offered her a job as a secretary.

That’s how their story began. Helen continued as a secretary, even though she made numerous mistakes and he had to correct them. Soon after, they were married in 1955 and later left Japan for the United States where they lived briefly in Texas before finally being transferred to Fort Lewis.

It was there where they had their first child Betty Sue Tsoukalas in 1957 and three years later Stanley Lewis Mitchell. James retired and they moved to Olympia where they lived happily until his passing in 1988.

Helen was a homemaker for many years, then went back to technical school to get her sewing/tailoring credentials. From that point, she continued to work at department stores like Nordstroms as a seamstress and became so skilled at her job that she decided to start her own business in 1987 called Helen’s Professional Alterations.

She continued the business for 20 years but yearned for city life so she sold the business, retired, then moved to Kent. While living in Kent, she would spend a great deal of time at the Kent and Renton senior centers taking different classes, one, in particular, was ballroom dancing.

Ballroom dancing suited her well, with all the dressy classes, companionship, and great fun. She danced for over ten years, attending different social functions including going on cruises.

Helen also liked to watch the Mariners, talk walks, do oriental flower arranging, Japanese calligraphy, and occasionally play the slot machines and bingo.

She was a deeply caring, soft-spoken, and trustworthy woman who always thought about others before herself and who cared about doing what is right. Her strong-willed personality went side by side with her need for independence. Most people will remember her generosity as her strongest attribute as well as being strong-willed and meticulous with everything she did.

Helen is survived by her children: Betty Tsoukalas and Stanley Mitchell, granddaughters Christina Tsoukalas, Katherine Tsoukalas, and grandson Michael Tsoukalas.

Private services will be held on a date to be determined. A private celebration will also be considered at a later date.

Services provided by Forest Funeral Home, 2501 Pacific Avenue SE, Olympia WA 98501.