Betty Lee Dodson's Obituary
Betty Lee Dodson, 93, of Charleston, IL died on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at Willow Breeze Hospice House in Mattoon IL.
A service of Celebration will be held on her birthday, March 19, 2025 at 10:00 am at First Presbyterian Church, 311 7th St., Charleston, IL with Rev. Mary Wright officiating. A reception will follow the service.
Betty was born on March 19, 1931 to Esslie Russell and Mary Elizabeth Rudisaile Morrison in Joplin, MO. She married Rev. Dr. John Frederick Dodson on September 3, 1953 in Albuquerque, NM. She is survived by her sister, Beverley Jean Cuddy; daughter, Martha “Marti” Hildebrandt (Steve) of St. Paul, MN; son, David Matthew Dodson of Charleston, IL; three grandchildren, Gregory Hildebrandt(Kelli) of Mission, TX, Alex Hildebrandt (Jessica Opheim) of Minneapolis, MN, and Kelli Weischedel of Danielsville, GA; ten great-grandchildren, Isaiah James, Joshua Jayden, Anthony Emmanuel, August Jordan, Royal John Hildebrandt, Elin Louise, Maxwell David, Aidan Henry, and Alma Ann Opheim Hildebrandt, and Leona Lynn Weischedel. Betty cherished her grandchildren and great-grandchildren deeply. She often said she never dreamed of living to see great-grandchildren, but they brought immense joy and blessings to her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John, four infant children, Robert Edward Dodson, Richard Allen Dodson, Jon Christopher Dodson, and Susan Elizabeth Dodson.
Betty was born in Joplin, MO but her family moved to Kansas City and then to Merriam Kansas for her first 4 years of school. She met her lifelong best friend “Louie” in Merriam and had many stories of their antics, but most impressionable were her church experiences with her friend. Betty was a lifelong Presbyterian with deeply faithful Baptist relatives on her mother’s side and those church weekly activities and relationships were the experiences that created a love of the church in Betty’s life. She spent the rest of her growing up years in Albuquerque, NM due to her mother’s asthma. She graduated from Albuquerque High School proudly as 3rd in her class of 600. She studied piano and she enjoyed listening to piano music up to her last hours. Attending the College of Wooster was one of the highlights of her life. She met John there and loved the academic, social and intellectual challenges, and friendships she made there. She wrote that despite her piano training classical music was not familiar to her until she met John whose favorite place to study was in the “music room” where one could request whatever music one wished. She wanted to be where John was, so she spent many hours there and through his enthusiasm and instruction began to find great pleasure in “serious” music. She graduated in 1953. After marrying in September 1953, she lived in Chicago at McCormick Seminary while John finished his degree. They moved to Gary, IN where she taught a preschool at a neighborhood house, forming roots for her concern and awareness of poverty and injustice. She described herself as a “grow where you are planted” person, finding that although she lacked enthusiasm for a move, each place proved to be a source of interest and pleasure. She and John were in churches in Cloudcroft, NM where son David was born in Alamogordo, NM. They served in Tempe, AZ, and in St. Louis, MO. Betty attended St. Louis University and obtained her MA in Speech and Language pathology. She set up a speech and language program in the St Louis public schools for students with disabilities that were considered unteachable. From there, they moved to Belvidere, IL where she was a Rockford public school speech clinician in a classroom of children ages 5-12, whose language problems prevented them from being in a regular classroom. It was an experience that was deeply gratifying, and she learned that everyone needs love and encouragement. Charleston, IL was the next move where she joined the faculty of Eastern Illinois University as director of the speech clinic of the department of communication disorders and sciences. She loved this position and the lives she was able to impact. In February of 1989 she was awarded the Honors of the Association Award given by the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association in recognition of her outstanding contributions and services provided to the profession. She was also named a Fellow of the Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She retired in 1989 after 15 years and went to LaMoure, ND to join John in his final ministry post. She wrote that she couldn’t imagine finding a vocation more satisfying than the one she had. “To have made a significant difference in the life a one other person is a privilege hard to exceed”.
Betty and John travelled extensively camping all over the US, and Betty travelled to Great Britain, Scotland, France, Holland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, Australia and India. She volunteered in Kenya, participated in the Fourth World Women’s Conference in China and probably the most profound experience was her position with the delegation of Christian Peacemaker Teams took her to Israel and Palestine where she helped Palestinians pick olives, worked with Bedouin communities in southern Israel, and joined in efforts to educate and facilitate relations between Israelis and Palestinians.
Betty was most known for her faith in God and His work in the world. She felt passionate about the injustices around her and her activities centered around caring about marginalized peoples. Her faith was a driving factor in believing that God cares for all people.
Betty was an avid reader. She participated in PEO, League of Women Voters, Presbyterian Women and evening circle. She loved her Monday and Friday swimming at the Mattoon YMCA. In her life she was involved in theater, wrote poetry, gardened, knitted extensively, made more than 50 quilts for family and friends, sang in the church choir and volunteered with food and housing ministries in Charleston. Her acts of service were consistent with her passions. When she had a job as a social director in a nursing home, she had a chance to learn about the social impact of aphasia (the lack of ability to speak) after a stroke which ironically, she experienced at the end of her life, but the sparkle and determination remained in her eyes. Her enthusiasm, bright smile, generosity, and unwavering compassion were gifts she shared abundantly with all those she met. Through her service and dedication, Betty truly reflected the love of God in all her endeavors.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Willow Breeze Endowment Fund, 700 W. Lincoln Ave., Suite 100, Charleston, IL 61920 or Charleston Carnegie Public Library, 712 6th Street, Charleston, IL 61920.
To view the obituary, send a condolence message, light a candle, or share memories, please visit www.adamsfuneralchapel.com. Adams Funeral Chapel of Charleston, IL, is assisting with the arrangements.
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