Aki Sugimoto Balsley

Aki Sugimoto Balsley was called home to join her parents and two brothers Saturday, June 24th 2017. A graveside service will be held Friday, June 30th at Rosemont Cemetery, 4441 Southwest Pkwy, Wichita Falls, TX 76308 at 2:00 PM under the direction of Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home of Wichita Falls.

Aki was born May 21st, 1927, to Kyoshi and Tsuyu Sugimoto of Nagoya, Japan. Raised as a Fire Chief’s daughter, completing her education in an all-girls prep school, working for RCA records and finally the US Air Force base commander in Japan, Aki came to the United States in 1957 as the wife of Airman Zane Behne. Her first introduction to life in the US began in Nora Springs, Iowa where she stayed until moving to Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1960 and then on to Wichita Falls, TX in 1962. Divorcing in 1967, she remarried Paul Balsley in 1968 and continued to reside in Wichita Falls for the next 27 years.

With her Japanese education and culture, Aki quickly earned her citizenship upon arriving in the US which were all instrumental in raising her two sons and passing on many stories and lessons to them and her grandchildren. She was a dedicated mother and was active in City View PTA and Band Parents. She enjoyed attending City View Jr. High football games, band concerts as well as the same Hirschi High School events for several years.

Aki loved pets, plants, flowers, dancing and getting together with friends. She worked at Texas Water Crafters and made a career change at McClurkan’s before retiring and moving to Mesquite, TX in 1995 and on to Allen, TX in 1997 to be closer to her boys and their families. She is preceded in death by both parents, two brothers and both husbands. She is survived by her two sons; Billy Behne and his wife Renee of Fairview, TX with two grandsons, Nathan and Darren Behne as well as Charlie Behne and his wife Tonya of Dallas, TX with three granddaughters, Jennifer Bowden with great granddaughter Cameron, Meredith Kopp and her husband Jeff with great grandson Nolan, Alex Barnette and her husband Cameron.