Nancy S. Sato, 88, of Scottsbluff, formerly of Mitchell, passed away Thursday, April 8, 2021, at her home. A private family service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in Mitchell with Pastor Sheryl Kester Beyer officiating. The service will be livestreamed on the Holy Apostles Episcopal Church Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/holyapostlesmitchell). Interment will follow at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Morrill. Masks are required for the service and for interment.
Public visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at Jones Mortuary in Mitchell. Masks are required. Memorials may be made to the Holy Apostles Episcopal Church. Online condolences may be left by visiting Nancy’s memorial page at www.jones-mortuary.com.
Nancy Oba was born February 12, 1933, to Sadiachi and Oiku Oba in La Jara, Colorado. She was one of eight children. She grew up at a truck garden, raising cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, green onions, cauliflower, radishes, carrots, and celery. She graduated as salutatorian from Alamosa High School in 1951 and enrolled in the University of Denver. She was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nursing diploma from St. Luke’s Hospital in Denver in 1954.
Nancy worked as a registered nurse in various capacities — nursing, teaching nursing, outpatient surgery nurse, information systems, quality assurance — at St. Luke’s Hospital and Denver General Hospital, Denver, CO; Cooper Hospital, Camden, NJ; Medical Clinic, Westcliffe, CO; and West Nebraska General Hospital and Regional West Medical Center, Scottsbluff.
She married Junior Yokomizo on December 26, 1957; he preceded her in death in 1962. She then married Roger Sato on April 12, 1969. They lived and farmed south of Morrill. Roger preceded her in death in April 2012. She moved to Scottsbluff in 2018.
Nancy was active in Holy Apostles Episcopal Church. She was a Sunday School teacher for 20 years, and she served on the Episcopal Church Women Guild and vestry. Nancy was also involved with the Morrill Literary Club, P.E.O. Chapter EU, and her Bridge Club. She is fondly remembered as the Den Mother for Boy Scout Troop 97, and as sewing leader for the Buttercups 4-H group. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, baking, and reading.
Survivors include her children: Lynne (Dustin) Calhoun, Jerome, ID; Grant (Nancy Kenyon) Yokomizo, Park Ridge, IL; Lori Yokomizo, Lakewood, CO; and Leann Sato, Gering, NE; her grandchildren: Lauren Yokomizo, Foster City, CA; John Yokomizo, Montclair, NJ; Ian and Colin Gallamore, Lakewood, CO; Mary Newman, Chicago, IL; and Milo and Merrill Newman, Gering, NE; and her sister, Grace Tanaka, Denver, CO.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, and her brothers George, Bill, Calvin, Herbert, Henry, and Ted.
