Elizabeth J. “Betty” Plancich died Saturday Jan. 10, 2009, in a Seattle hospital.

Plancich was born May 28, 1932, to Delbert C. and Mae Alice (Breitigan) Smith, in their Burton home and has spent the rest of her life on Vashon, mostly in her Dockton home. Plancich graduated from Vashon High School in 1949. She married Jerry Plancich in 1950 and they raised four children together.

Plancich was active in many groups with her children, including 4-H, the Vashon Booster Club and girls’ softball. Plancich ran the Dockton Store and was the postmaster in Dockton for many years.

She was a strong-willed woman who ran a business and also kept the home fires burning while her husband and in later years her children fished in Alaska.

Plancich’s husband Jerry, son Mark and daughter Marcie preceded her in death.

She is survived by son Gerald and his wife Debbie, grandson Brian and his wife Aida and their children Sophia, Joey and Eli; grandson Nicolas and grandson Andrew and his wife Evalyn and their children Tre and Nya, son Greg and his daughter Carlie, brothers Lee and Greg Smith and sisters Laura Mae Wojciechowski and Joanne Blevins.

Numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews will miss her, as will many friends and neighbors who will remember attending the annual Dockton picnic held at her home.

A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Island Funeral Service Chapel with a reception following at Sound Food.

Remembrances in Plancich’s name can be made to Providence Hospital Cardiac Department, 500 17th Ave; Seattle, WA 98122, or to Vashon Island Fire & Rescue, P.O. Box 1150; Vashon, WA 98070. Please visit the online guest book at www.islandfuneral.com.