Marion K. Morioka

Marion Morioka – daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, friend and sidekick to the Incredible Hulk.​In 1968, Marion appeared on an episode of the game show “PDQ” as a contestant partnered with Bill Bixby (TV’s Incredible Hulk). As a reward for guessing words and phrases with the fewest possible letters, Marion won furniture and appliances and delighted TV audiences with her riotous, infectious laugh.​That’s what people say they remember most about Marion – her laugh and her ability to become an instant friend, even if she’d only known you a few minutes.​The youngest of the three daughters of Hideo and Michiko Muto, Marion was born August 27, 1942 in the Santa Anita Racetrack stables in Arcadia, California. Just days after she was born, the family was moved to the Japanese internment Rohwer War Relocation Center in Arkansas.​When the camps closed in 1945, the Muto family moved back to Los Angeles. Marion grew up with the goal of being the “most American” of her school mates and even became a cheerleader at Dorsey High.​While she attended college, everyone joked that Marion majored in the card game pinochle, but her organizational skills and quick fingers (she could type 120 words per minute) led to her getting a job as a secretary.​When she wasn’t in her college classes, Marion could often be found spending time with Eddie Morioka, who worked for 3M. The dashing couple wed in 1963 and celebrated with a gala affair that included 300 guests.​Eddie and Marion moved to Camarillo, California with 3M in 1965. There they started their family when son, Ichiro, tragically stillborn in 1966, was followed by John in 1968 and Keith in 1970.​While in Camarillo, Marion worked at the local newspaper where she leveraged her connections to highlight her kids’ sports teams. There wasn’t a 6-year-old soccer team in the country that received more coverage than John’s team did in the Daily News.​In 1975, Eddie was promoted and the family moved to Roseville, Minnesota. Marion held high level executive secretary positions at several companies. But, for as talented, quick and organized as she was, Marion was always best known for her laugh.​She and sister-in-law Joyce always shared lots of laughs while planning the annual Las Vegas family reunion. They organized activities for between 40 to more than 60 people every year and everything always ran without a hitch.​Marion and Eddie moved back to Camarillo after Eddie retired in 1996, but the couple made frequent trips back to Minnesota. Some of the most memorable trips were madeto celebrate John and Keith’s marriages and the births of John’s children – Kiron (in 2002) and Sohana (in 2006).​Marion was a proud grandma and it showed – nearly every surface at home was filled with photos of her grandchildren and she eagerly shared news of their many accomplishments.To celebrate Eddie and Marion’s milestone 50th wedding anniversary, the entire family – kids included – traveled together to Japan. Marion planned an epic day trip to see Mount Fuji, but they were foiled by motion sickness and impenetrable fog. After giving the tour company an earful about the series of mishaps, Marion was able to laugh about the crazy day when she and Eddie received a painting of Mt. Fuji as a gift – they finally saw the mountain!After Eddie battled a serious infection and illness in 2015, Marion convinced him Minnesota was the place to be so they could be close to their family. They found their ideal home and made the move in 2017.​Only a month after their arrival back in Minnesota, Keith and his wife Lynne surprised Eddie and Marion with the news that they were expecting a baby after a six-year long journey trying to grow their family. Marion was ecstatic and announced grandma would absolutely be spoiling the baby!​After being diagnosed with cancer in August 2017, Marion vowed to fight it with the strength and determination of her samurai ancestors so she could meet her newest grandchild. She endured surgery, radiation and chemotherapy with her trademark resolve and sense of humor. In January 2018, she received a positive report from her doctors.​Baby Mia was born January 17, 2018 and Marion was able to meet and snuggle her a few weeks later.​Marion’s health rapidly declined, but in the days before she died Eddie remained by her side and she received visits from John, Keith and all her beloved grandchildren. She passed away peacefully on March 6, 2018.​Marion is preceded in death by her father, mother, sister Katherine and son Ichiro. She is survived by her husband Eddie, sister Lucille, children John (Priya) and Keith (Lynne) and grandchildren Kiron, Sohana and Mia.​A celebration of her life will be held at an open house visitation on Sunday, March 18, 2018 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home, 2130 N. Dale St., Roseville, MN. Marion will be privately interred at Roselawn Cemetery in Roseville. Memorials are preferred to Mayo Clinic’s cancer research or Park Nicollet Frauenshuh Cancer Center.