Minh Lam, 59, of Pullman died Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, in a
Spokane hospital, according to friends of the Lam family.
Minh Vinh Lam was born Sept. 1, 1961, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Min and Mindy (Kuang) married July 9, 1988.
Friends say he was hospitalized in Pullman and flown by air
ambulance to Spokane when his condition demanded.
He was the popular proprietor – operated by him and his
wife, Mindy – of Minh’s Restaurant at the corner of Grand Avenue and Stadium
Way in Pullman.
The Lams are members of the extended Lam family who
own/operate several Pullman restaurants.
Minh had been in the restaurant business since he was in
high school. His background included working for Pullman’s Oriental Restaurant on Grand Avenue.
Read his obituary at the Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman
website …
https://www.kimballfh.com/obituary/minh-lam
… the obit does not list the cause of death.
The obit says viewing at Kimball Funeral Home for the public
will be 3-6 p.m. Fri., Nov. 13, 2020, with “social distancing and masks
required.” The funeral service for family will be 9 a.m. Sat., Nov. 14, 2020, at
the funeral home with burial following in Pullman City Cemetery.
According to the obit, “Minh is survived by his wife, Mindy,
at their home; his two daughters, Megan Lam (engaged to Michael Bray) of
Spokane and Melonie Lam of Wenatchee; his mother, Soai Chau, 2 brothers, Dinh
and Tony Lam and his sister, Ngoc Thai all living in Pullman; as well as several
nieces and nephews and extended family. He was preceded in death by his father
and his brother, Loi Lam.”
On-line condolences for the family may be left at
www.kimballfh.com
The Minh’s Restaurant’s website says it has provided the “highest
quality and authentic food …offering delicious flavors of Asia with our
extensive selection of Indian, Thai, and Korean food. From Asian fusion and
unique Thai dishes to bubble teas and traditional Chinese meals, we cater to
all taste buds.”
A 1999 story in the Moscow Pullman Daily News said Mihn Lam was owner of The Emerald
restaurant in Pullman when the Minh’s opened “Minh's Bakery & Sandwich” at
the former location of Daylight Donut.
“The new restaurant offers Vietnamese cuisine, which may be
new to many people who live and work in Pullman,” said the story.
Also, the story said people liked Minh’s “friendly
personality and that he knows his customers by name.”
Said the story, “Mindy Lam … cooks most of the food that is
offered at Minh's Bakery and Sandwich. She makes most of the baked items fresh
each morning.”
He graduated from Pullman High School in 1982, studied at Washington
State University and transferred to University of Idaho from which he graduated
with a degree in biochemistry and psychology. He aspired to be a medical
doctor, but changed his mind due to family obligations. Said a friend, “one of
Mihn and Mindy’s daughters is a nurse and the other a pharmacist. Obviously a
very bright family.”
Said the friend, “It’s so sad having Minh pass and his brother,
Loi Lam, also a Pullman restaurateur, dying (November 2018). Not only were they
successful in their businesses, but they were appreciated and popular with
virtually everyone in the community. Rest in peace.”
This
story written by PULLMAN :: Cup of the Palouse blog. 11/12/2020 10:31:20 am
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