Fukuko Theresa Offutt, 83, of Ammon, died Friday December 2, 2016, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls.

Born on March 3rd, 1933, to Tomomichi and Kiyoko Takano, the number "three" was always magical for her. In Vegas, the pit bosses on the floor of the Mirage called her "the woman with the golden arm" because she made 23 passes on a craps table. And she never walked by a game of roulette without playing because she had a knack with numbers. She was brave and smart and had a wonderful laugh. Anyone that met Fukuko liked her. Making friends was always easy.

Fukuko was born in Tokyo, Japan, and her life experience made her a natural storyteller. Fukuko's mother was a musician in the Tokyo symphony and taught her to play the koto, or Japanese harp. There are pictures of her wearing fancy kimonos and standing in front of rows of Japanese dolls. She even attended a private Catholic all-girls school, and she told her two sons that one of her classmates was Admiral Yamamoto's daughter. Those Catholic nuns impressed upon her a love of European culture, and it stayed with her all her life. She even took the name "Theresa" when she was married, honoring the patron saint.

World War 2 was a traumatic time. She spoke of kerosene being sprayed by planes that flew over the city so that it fell like a smelly, oily rain. Shortly after that, another plane dropped a fire bomb that burned everything to the ground. Fukuko wandered the streets for three days before she was found by her mother. Infested with lice, mother and daughter fled the city to seek refuge in the countryside where her mother died to a stroke while standing at a sink to wash her hair. Fukuko spoke about the shock she felt when Emperor Hirohito addressed the nation, telling all Japanese people that they had unconditionally surrendered. And she recalled seeing General Douglas MacArthur for the first time and thinking that he was some kind of god.

Fukuko was fearless. She learned English, got a bachelor's degree, and began work at the American embassy where she met and fell in love with Gary Offutt. They celebrated 54 years of marriage on November 30th. That's a pretty good run.

I wish those of you reading these words could have met Fukuko. She loved fine things, won many trophies at cat shows, enjoyed dogs, and relished delicious fish. Her personality was too big to contain in such a small, petite body, and she had many stories to tell of the adventures she had in Greece, Italy, Germany, England, Spain, and Morocco. She flew to Hong Kong to meet her best friend Mieko Nomura. And she celebrated the marriage of her niece in Tokyo.

Fukuko is survived by Gary Offutt (husband), Jaden Offutt (son), and Michael Offutt (son). She was a colorful firecracker.

Thank you for all the memories, mom, and may you rest in peace. We love you so much.

Private family services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the care of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First St. Idaho Falls. Condolences may be sent online at www.coltrinmortuary.com