Willow Glen Funeral Home, 1039 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA 95125.
Betsy Hatakeyama (Hayashi) was born in Salinas, on October 13, 1923. As most Japanese American families in the Salinas-Watsonville area, the Hayashi family earned their living in agriculture, working in the strawberry fields.
Betsy attended Salinas High School, and later enrolled at Hatnell Community College where she developed her secretarial skills.
Betsy often proudly related that her first job upon release from Interment Camp at Poston Arizona, was working as a secretary in the US Department of the interior located in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart Building.
Soon after, she married Yoneo Hatakeyama. They settled in Fresno for 34 years. Later, they moved to Morgan Hill to be closer to other relatives. There, Betsy became active as a founding member of the Morgan Hill Tai Chi Group.
She often participated in activities at the Morgan Hill Buddhist Community Center. She especially enjoyed flower arranging and! often joined the Morgan Hill Senior Citizen Group on their many sightseeing trips and group activities.
Betsy and Yoneo enjoyed their many travels and cruises especially to Alaska, Japan, Hawaii, Philippines, London, Paris and other major cities of Western Europe, and the Caribbean.
In her later years, Betsy continued to lead a very active life, walking daily, the San Pedro Percolation Ponds Trail across the street from where she lived until entering Nirvana on September 26, 2013.
She is survived by children, Dr. Jon (Shelley) Hatakeyama; their children, Evan (Willa), Vanessa, Brent and Vincent. Steven (Becky) Hatakeyama; their children, Bryce and Stevie and the late Mia Rivera.
