Betty Yantis, age 95, died peacefully at her home on February 4, 2016. Elizabeth Mary Sinclair was born on February 25, 1920 in Seattle, Washington to Bliss and Dorothy Sinclair. Betty grew up in Olympia, went to Griffin Grade School and graduated from Olympia High School. She received her nursing degree from the University of Washington in 1942. Betty married George Franklin Yantis, Jr. on August 19, 1942, at “The Church of the Presidents” in Washington D.C.
In 1943, she worked as an RN at St. Peter’s Hospital and later as an instructor for the Army Nurse Corps. Betty put her nursing career on hold to raise a family of 7 children. In 1966, she returned to work at St. Peter’s Hospital, and later for the Thurston Mason Health District where she retired as Nursing Director in 1986.
Family was very important to Betty and she was well known for her hospitality, and love of gardening and canning. Betty was a long time member of St. John’s Episcopal Church and her other activities included St. Anne Guild, the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington and the Retired Nurses Association.
Betty is survived by her brother, Sandy Sinclair, and children Robert (Dorothy) Yantis, Theodore (Monica) Yantis, Dotty (Pat) O’Neill, Steve (Debbie) Yantis, Dave (Jindy) Yantis, John Yantis, and Peggy (Doug) Pulse, as well as 21 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren. Betty was preceded in death by her husband George, in 2008.
Memorial services will be held at St John’s Episcopal Church on March 12th at 2:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to St John’s Episcopal Church or Providence Sound Home Care and Hospice www.providence.org/giving
