Dorothy Toshie Tanaka

Dorothy Toshie Tanaka was born in Mosier, OR on August 3, 1928, to Goichi and Hatsue (Fujii) Kanemasu. She lived in the Mosier/Hood River area until May of 1942 when Japanese Americans (including citizens by birth) were required to report to internment camps during WWII. She and her family were sent to Pinedale Assembly Center in Fresno, CA and from there to Tule Lake Internment Camp in Tulelake, CA and finally to Topaz Internment Camp in Delta, UT.

From Topaz, Dorothy moved to Sims, MT to live with her oldest brother, George at the Jenkins farm. She completed her senior year of high school there and moved to Great Falls, MT to attend beauty school. She took a job in Pocatello, ID where she met Hish Tanaka. They married in 1952 and moved to Ogden, UT where they adopted their only child, HelenKaye. In 1968 Dorothy and HelenKaye moved to Walla Walla, WA to live with her mother and brother, Kingo Kanemasu.

Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Helen Kanemasu, her brothers George (Tomiko) Kanemasu, Wataru (Mary) Kanemasu, Kingo Kanemasu, nephew Richard Kanemasu and niece Kelley (Kanemasu) Johnson.

She is survived by her daughter, HelenKaye (Gary Price); nephews, Edward (Karen) Kanemasu, Lance (Sue) Kanemasu, and Wayne (Karen) Kanemasu; nieces, Dani Kurtz, Nadine (Sanny) Huey, and Ruth (Richard) Kanemasu. She is survived by lifelong friends who have been like family - Haruo and Patty Kajita and Mary Kato. She is also survived by the next generation of nieces, nephews and cousins who brought so much joy to her life.

We would like to thank the staff of Providence St. Mary Medical Center and Walla Walla Community Hospice who were unfailingly kind during such a difficult time. You are too numerous to name individually but please know that you are appreciated. We would also like to thank Dr. Kuo-Chiang Lian who offered so much comfort and advice.

Per Dorothy’s wishes, a small family graveside service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Providence St. Mary Foundation, Walla Walla Community Hospice or a charity of your choice through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.