Midori (Miiko) Kubota Toelken

Midori (Miiko) Kubota Toelken was born in 1936 in Los Angeles, California. She passed away on February 21, 2026. At the time of her passing she was at her home in Skidmore, Texas, surrounded by family. She was preceded in death by her brother Yoshio Kubota and her husband J. Barre Toelken. She is survived by her children: Kazuko Toelken and husband Dave Bigelow, R. Kenji Toelken, John H. Toelken, L. Taizo Toelken and wife Sandy, Diana Chiyo Toelken, Vanessa Toelken Brown, 19 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren, her brothers Howard (wife Chieko) Kubota, Al (wife Betty) Kubota, and a sister Yachi Kubota Shiotani and Sister in law Gwen Kubota, and several nieces and nephews.

Miiko was extremely talented in culinary arts and cooked alongside famous Chefs like James Beard. She taught gourmet cooking classes, made desserts for La Patisserie and was a Chef at high end restaurants in Oregon. She continued cooking gourmet foods throughout the years and her last big spread was preparing all the ingredients and making Sushi for New Years Day 2026.

Miiko also was a strong supporter of cultivating cultural heritage. She directed the 1975 “Old Ways in the New World” Japanese American presentation for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C. She also taught about culture through foodways and stories and songs, and the importance of family. We are thankful for all she taught us and nurturing us all along.

Miiko loved great adventures and traveling around the world. One of her favorite passions was birding and she never ventured far without her binoculars, notebook and pen. Miiko had many dear friends from all over the world who loved her and will miss her smile, wit, and genuine friendship, not to mention her good tasting food!

We, the surviving family and her dear friends, will dearly miss her, and she will be fondly remembered.