Betty Jean Spahr was born in Wellston, Missouri on February 23, 1925. A month later, she was baptized at St. Michael Catholic Church in Michael, Illinois. She lived her early years near Michael and on a farm in Grafton, Illinois. She attended high school in Wood River and Alton.
While living in Lincoln Addition in Wood River, she married Lawrence G. Spahr on June 24, 1942 at St. Patrick’s Church in Alton. In October, Lawrence left to serve in World War II. After the war, they built a house in Lincoln Addition. In 1961, they purchased a farm in Jerseyville, Illinois. After her husband’s death, she followed her son and his family to Ohio, and eventually, Colorado.
Betty worked in admitting at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Alton for 30 years. She was an avid reader. She crocheted baby blankets to give away. For the enjoyment of her neighbors, she put up seasonal window displays in her apartment in Colorado. She loved to travel with relatives from southern Illinois and her daughter-in law’s mother.
Betty was proceeded in death by her husband Lawrence; her parents, John and Anna Godar; her brother Kenny, her brother John and wife Blenna Godar, her sister Mary Ellen and husband John Yeager, her sister Carol Cannella, her sister Joyce and husband Ralph Zerr; her sister-in-law Nancy (Neil) Godar; and brother-in-law Tim Molloy. She is survived by her brother Neil Godar; her sister Kathy (Clarence) Schneider; her sister Janice Molloy; her brother-in-law John Cannella; her son and wife Larry and Colleen Spahr; her daughter and husband Beth and Jim Rigdon; grandchildren Jimmy, Tracy, and Corey (Emily) Rigdon; Kendra (Todd Race) and Kevin Spahr; great grandchildren Keegan and Colton Rigdon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
On January 12, 2025, she died peacefully in her sleep at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, where she had resided for the last 20 years.
A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, March 28, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Ambrose Church in Godfrey, IL 62035. Burial will follow at St. Patrick’s cemetery in Godfrey.
