Betty Rae Dodge, nee Volkerding, 82, of Collinsville, died May 15, 2024, at Edwardsville Care Center in Edwardsville, Illinois where she had resided since January. 

Betty was born to Raymond and Juanita (Miller) Volkerding on July 5, 1941, in Terre Haute, Indiana. Before she retired, she was an Insurance Underwriter in St. Louis, Missouri, a Postal Carrier in St. Peters, Missouri and co-owned a Flower Nursery in Elizabeth, Indiana. Betty enjoyed cooking, war movies, reading and spending time with her family.

Betty is preceded in death by her son, Richard Scott Simpher; her brothers, Tom and James Volkerding; and her granddaughter, Jessica Hibbard (Benwell), as well as her husbands, Richard Joseph Simpher, Edwin Huber and Melvin Larry Dodge.

She is survived by her daughter, Catherine (Carrie) Simpher-Benwell; her grandchildren; James (Amy) Benwell, Anna Lynn (Zachery) Grieger, and Sydney Simpher; 4 great- grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and friends.  She will be missed by all who knew her.

Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice at 333 Salem Place suite 165, Fairview Heights, Illinois 62208.

Per her wishes, she will be cremated and interred next to her beloved husband, Larry Dodge in Greenlawn Cemetery in Greenville, Indiana at a future date.