Sono Begert
April 12, 1918 - May 30, 2025
Obituary
Sono enjoyed a long and amazing life. She was born on April 12, 1918 in Shingu, Japan and passed away on May 30, 2025 at her home in Tacoma. Of the nine children of Isaku and Mitsue Nishimura, Sono was the sixth child and the fourth of six daughters. Her father wanted his daughters to have a real education, so he started a school in Tokyo focused on the arts called Bunka Gakuin. Sono had a talent for art and studied painting and other art forms at the school.
After graduating, in 1939, she accompanied a Japanese diplomat and his family to Prague, Czechoslovakia on a steamship. During the voyage, WWII began and she could not leave Europe for the next 6 years. In 1941, she moved to Vienna to attend art school until 1945 when she was evacuated to Berlin. As WWII was ending, she somehow traveled 600 miles through war-torn Germany to a refugee camp on the Swiss border.
After the war, she was able to return to Japan where she found her home destroyed but, miraculously, her parents and siblings were alive. In Tokyo, she met Carl Begert on a blind date. He was a US Air Force officer stationed in Japan during the US occupation. When he was transferred to California, she came to this country on a student visa so they could be together. They were married in 1950. They had three children in Houston-Liz, Carol and Stephen, before moving to Syracuse NY, where Richard was born. From there, they moved to Newfoundland and then to McChord. Carl retired from the Air Force in 1962 and the family moved to Japan, where Sono was reunited with her parents and siblings. In 1963, the family moved back to Tacoma and Michael was born. They built a home in Puyallup, eventually adding an art studio in the back yard where Sono painted, made raku pottery, wood-block prints and gave art lessons. She also opened an art gallery with five other women artists in Lakewood. Sono and Carl enjoyed traveling to Japan often as well as Europe and Hawaii. Carl passed away in 1989 and Sono moved to Tacoma, and continued to pursue art and travel. With her sisters and her children, she loved travel to Japan, Europe, Hawaii and Tahiti. She was an early member of the Puget Sound Sumi Artists Association and exhibited often with them, winning many awards. She was an excellent bridge player and was active in the bridge group at the Federal Way Community Center. She was a contributing member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Federal Way, attending Mass every Sunday until she was over 100 years old.
Sono was an unofficial host for countless visitors from Japan, including several nieces and grand nieces who came to attend school here. She was very proud of her five children-Liz (Mike Dunbar), Carol, Stephen (Ann), Richard (Leslie), and Michael (Annette Clear); 10 grandchildren-Rob (Karen), Midori (Mickey), Isaku (Katie), Etienne (Kate), Manon, Taylor (Lauren), Blake, Aya, Keita and Mika; and four great-grandsons-Isaiah, Luke, Briac and Orrin, plus many beloved nieces and nephews. She made us all feel beautiful.
She leaves a legacy in her family and in her artwork. She was fortunate to stay in her own home until the end, thanks to the loving care of her caregivers-Margaret, Rachel, Njeri, Kanana and Hottensiah, and the expert guidance of Multicare Hospice.
Memorials-Sono requested only white flowers for her service, a tradition in Japan.
In lieu of flowers, pleas consider a donation to
Tacoma Community House
or
Puyallup Valley Japanese American Citizens League.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Federal Way on June 11, 11 a.m.