Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Bessie Watanabe Asai passed away on May 29, 2026, in West Linn, Oregon, at the age of 103. Bessie was born on March 13, 1923, the daughter of Ryosuke and Sen Watanabe, and was a life-long resident of Hood River, Oregon. She graduated from Odell High School in 1941. The following year, due to the internment of persons with Japanese ancestry during World War II, she was sent to the Pinedale, Tule Lake and Heart Mountain Relocation Camps until she returned to Hood River in 1945.
After World War II, she married Masami (Min) Asai on Feb. 20, 1948, in Spokane, Washington. She was an orchardist’s wife her whole life, which translated into a very busy schedule of raising four children, working in the orchard, and tending a large garden. She also became very involved in the Hood River community. Some of her activities included the Hood River Hospital, where she served on the board, and volunteered at the Hospital for more than 25 years. She was named the Soroptimist “Woman of Distinction” for her tremendous community involvement and she was also recognized by the Hood River County School District for her many contributions over the years. Other activities included being a Cub Scout leader, Blue Bird leader, PTA volunteer, 4-H leader for nearly 30 years, on her Church’s Administrative Board, on the Election Board, assisting elementary students with reading, and many other activities that are too numerous to list.
She will be most remembered for her grace, beauty, and being the kindest soul that absolutely we ever knew. There wasn’t a person that she met that wasn’t immediately touched by her genuine friendship and compassion. She always saw the best in everyone, and had the patience of Job, especially while raising her four children.
Bessie was a terrific cook, and we can’t count the times that she cooked and baked all day long and produced large and delicious spreads for many large family gatherings, especially at Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Some of her many specialties included stir fry, tempura, chow mein, cinnamon rolls, and apple and lemon meringue pies.
Bessie was preceded in death by her husband, Masami (Min) Asai, her husband of 54 years, and is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Sam and Karen Asai of Hood River; daughter, Ellen Kariya of Kirkland, Washington; son and daughter-in-law, Carl and Cynthia Asai of Tualatin, Oregon; son and daughter-in-law, Winston and Jan Asai of Vancouver, Washington; six grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren; her sisters-in-law Chiyoko Watanabe of Hood River and Mitzi Loftus of Ashland, Oregon; and numerous nephews and nieces.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m. at the Anderson’s Tribute Center, Hood River. In lieu of flowers and Koden, the family would like donations to be sent to the Hood River County Education Foundation (HRCEF) for the benefit of the Min and Bessie Asai Family Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.