William Belenski

Aug 9, 1953 -

Feb 17, 2020

Captain William A. Belenski, 66, passed away on Feb. 17, 2020, at home in Olympia, Wash.

Bill was born on Aug. 9, 1953, in Longview, Wash., to Donald and Alma "Jean" (Walker) Shepard.

In 1961, Jean married Harvey Belenski and the family moved to Anchorage, Alaska, days after the 1964 earthquake.

Bill obtained his pilot's license in 1969, and graduated from East High School in 1971.

In 1972, Bill enlisted in the Army and served as an E4 SPC as a member of the Military Police and CID near Kitzingen, Germany.

He received an honorable discharge from the Army, and moved to Sequim, Wash., and obtained his Commercial Pilot's License. After a year of flying for Del Air in Bethel, Alaska, he moved to Anchorage and flew as a captain for AAI.

Bill and Carol A. Fowler of Sequim were married in 1976 and had daughters Christine and Stacie.

In 1981, Bill started working for the U. S. Department of the Interior, OAS and in 1986 worked as a copilot for America West Airlines, before moving to Olympia to continue as a 737 Captain.

Bill married Judy Dahlquist in 1988. He built a home by hand and they started a Japanese maple farm. Bill retired in 1996, and continued to enjoy his Japanese maples business until his death. He also spent a great deal of time with three of his granddaughters. He traveled to Alaska as often as possible to visit family and friends and fish for salmon.

Bill is survived by his wife, Judy; daughter, Christine (Brian) and granddaughters, Olivia and Emerson of Anchorage; daughter, Stacie and granddaughters, Emily, Katherine and Margaret of Olympia; brother, Ronald and niece, Adrie (Leon) of Anchorage; and brother, Donald (Sherri) of Dayton, Nev.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Jean and Harvey Belenski, and Donald Shepard.

A celebration of life is Sunday, March 1, 2020, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 455 North Street SE, Tumwater, Wash.; 360-753-1065.