A Fall City woman who played an instrumental role in bringing high quality health care to the Snoqualmie Tribe has passed away.

Elsie Irma Zackuse Erickson, 73, died Monday, July 1 at Snoqualmie Valley Hospital.

Erickson was an honorary lifetime council member of the Snoqualmie Tribe, for which she served as the community health care coordinator and health services liason.

“Elsie really loved transportation, and helping people get to their medical appointments all over Western Washington,” said Ruth Tolmasoff, director of Mount Si Senior Center, where Erickson served on the board for three years.

Erickson also helped efforts to provide assisted living for Valley seniors.

“She understood housing, and the challenges of getting people to live in one place happily,” Tolmasoff said. “I consistently got good advice from her. I can’t say enough about her as a good, kind, loving person.”

Erickson’s greatest love, by all accounts, was her family.

“She was always telling you about her kids,” Tolmasoff said.

Erickson’s generosity extended well beyond blood relations.

“She took everyone in: all our friends, whoever needed a home or a roof. She was there for you,” said Anita Christiansen, Erickson’s daughter.

Erickson was born Dec. 29, 1934, in Seattle to Thomas and Nina Zackuse. She was raised in Redmond, Issaquah, and Kirkland, where she attended school. She worked as a certified nursing assistant, a counselor, rose cutter at the Hollywood Greenhouse, and caregiver. Her primary career was in electronics, working at Pacific Electro Dynamics. She moved from Bothell to Winthrop in 1976, and returned to the Snoqualmie Valley in 2001. In 1992 and 1993 she volunteered on the fire lines in California.

In her leisure time, Erickson enjoyed ceramics, crocheting, knitting, weaving, reading and traveling.

Erickson’s survivors include two sons, Thomas Zambrano of Carnation and Rick Zambrano of Alaska; five daughters, Anita Christiansen of Duvall, Cathy Burley of Seattle, Koren Wickenhagen of Bothell, Elsie M. Thomas of North Bend and Julie Erickson of Fall City; three sisters, Frances de los Angeles of Snohomish, Cora Ramirez of Tacoma and Joan Smeltzer of Republic, Wash.; 16 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

A visitation and funeral was held July 7 at Flintoft’s Issaquah Funeral Home, followed by burial at the Lower Hillside Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be sent to the Scleroderma Foundation, 1-800-722-4673.

An online guest book can be signed at www.flintofts.com.