Eleanor Miharu Nishimoto Christensen

May 29, 1943 ~ June 1, 2022 (age 79)

Eleanor Miharu Nishimoto Christensen, our loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend passed away on June 1, 2022, at the age of 79. After a valiant fight with breast cancer that recently spread to her bones, lungs, and brain, she returned to her Heavenly Father with her husband lovingly remaining by her side until she passed.

She was born on May 29, 1943, in Kainaliu, Hawaii, to Sadao and Take Ishida Nishimoto. Eleanor is the sixth of seven children. She was raised in Kainaliu, Hawaii, where she grudgingly learned hard work on the family’s coffee farm. She later taught her children that hard work was worth it even if it wasn’t always fun.

Eleanor attended Konawaena Elementary, Middle, and High School. She often said she didn’t enjoy school but always tried her best. School was much more bearable after she became best friends with Edna Yamane. They remained best friends and kept in contact until Eleanor’s final days.

After she married Allan M. Tashiro, they moved to Honaunau, Hawaii, and they worked hard on their own farm growing coffee, bananas, and macadamia nuts. They were blessed with five children: Franklin, Kenneth, Janice, Helen, and Allan H. Unexpectedly, Allan M. passed away, leaving Eleanor a young widow, but she never gave up and kept her little family together.

On November 22, 1975, Eleanor and her four older children joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Eventually her youngest would also join the church when he was old enough. She always had an innate knowledge of Heavenly Father and trusted in Him and His goodness even before becoming a member of His church. She went on to serve in many positions of leadership in the Primary and Relief Society, where her love for others and her ability to see how to serve them allowed her to make many beautiful and lasting friendships. Even when sick and confined to her bed, she thought of others and had her family reaching out to friends and neighbors in her stead.

On December 21, 1976, she married her eternal sweetheart, Kerry B. Christensen, in the Provo Utah Temple. They resided in Hawaii and were blessed with a baby daughter, Kari-Lynn. In June of 1978, Kerry and Eleanor moved their family to Brigham City, Utah, and were later blessed with another daughter, Kimiko. Dad and Mom always made us feel as one family and treated us all with the same love and respect. This December would have been their 46th wedding anniversary. They always said their marriage was hard at first, but it was worth all the hard work. They both agree that “now it takes the two of us to make one whole person.”

Eleanor kept busy raising their children, serving in her church callings, and making lifelong friends through her service. She made beautiful candlewick, embroidered, and hand-sewn gifts for others. Her handmade soaps and cards were appreciated by many. She loved to work in her garden, grow flowers, and make beautiful leis for others. She would stay up late at night canning peaches, homemade jams, pickles, and salsa. She was a great cook, and many of her neighbors and children’s friends remember her yummy eggrolls, wonton, and sweet and sour sauce. Her menus for special occasion dinners were amazing and her different types of sushi so yummy!

After twelve years in Brigham City, Kerry and Eleanor moved to Lompoc, California, with their two youngest daughters. She again adapted to her new home and made it a safe haven for her husband and daughters. People loved her roses and flowers she planted out front. She grew amazing orchids and lovingly shared them with friends and neighbors or people who needed cheering up.

In June of 2017, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After her first dose of chemotherapy, she ended up in the hospital for seven weeks. She valiantly fought for her life, and with her faith in the power of the Lord’s priesthood, she was able to go home and rebuild her strength. She knew and loved her neighbors around their block, and they greeted her while she used her walker to do her rounds. Many times, she took treats to the neighboring children just as she always remembered her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren on special occasions and holidays. She never forgot a birthday and always favored us with a birthday serenade. Even when she was too sick to send notes or birthday cards, she had Dad write them so nobody would be missed.

Eleanor will live on as an example of Christlike service, unconditional love for all of God’s children, and charity for those less fortunate. She may have been a tiny lady, but she leaves huge footprints for her posterity to follow in.

Surviving is her husband, Kerry; her children: Frank (Shana) Tashiro of Brigham City, UT; Janice (Chad) Reese of Willard, UT; Helen (Matthew) McCarty of Stockton, UT; Allan Tashiro of Collinsville, IL; Kari-Lynn (Benjamin) Middleton of Saratoga Springs, UT; Kimiko (Daniel) Hammari of Lehi, UT; and her brother Samuel (Heidi) Nishimoto and sisters Winnie (Kim) and Flora. Also surviving are in-laws Karen (Timothy) Corless, Kim (Wynette) Christensen, Kay (Christine) Christensen, and Diane Christensen. Eleanor is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Allan M. Tashiro, her parents, her sisters Setsuko Tomasu and Yuriko Onaha, her brother Frank, and her son Kenneth T. Tashiro. Also preceding her in death are her in-laws, Darwin and Doris Booth Christensen, and brother-in-law Keith Christensen.

The family gives heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Lawrence Riemer, MD, who has been with Eleanor every step of her health journey, and the nurses and CNAs of Assisted Hospice. Also, a special thank you goes to the Mesa Oaks and Brigham City 19th Wards’ Relief Societies and bishoprics.

A viewing will be held on Monday, June 6, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mesa Oaks Ward), 212 East Central Avenue, Lompoc, California, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m.

Another viewing will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2022, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Brigham City 19th Ward), 105 Fishburn Drive, Brigham City, Utah.

Funeral services will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. under the direction of Myers Mortuary of Brigham City, Utah.

Interment will be at the Brigham City Cemetery in Brigham City, Utah.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at Myers Mortuary.

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