Elizabeth Mae Scheel (Betty Hodge) went home to be with her Lord and Savior on July 29, 2011. She was born June 22, 1922, to Claude and Agnes Hodge in Coeur d'Alene.

She graduated from Coeur d'Alene High School in 1940 and married Melvin Scheel on Dec. 25, 1942. While he served in the Navy during World War II, she worked as a secretary. Mel and Betty spent many happy years in their house on Willow Springs Road where they raised their three daughters. Betty was active in her daughters' lives, becoming a Camp Fire Girls' leader and a 4-H leader, teaching cooking and sewing. Betty helped with the Freeman float for more than 10 years.

She was active at South Hill Bible Church where she played the piano for 27 years. She was involved in Christian Women's Club where she served on the board. At the age of 43 she started modeling for the Crescent Department Store and continued for 15 years. Mel and Betty had many friends in Nishinomiya, Spokane's Sister City, and they entertained many of these friends in their own home.

She is survived by her three daughters, Donna (John) McMath in Rathdrum, Mary Lynn (Craig) Esvelt in Renton, Wash., and Jan (Earnie) Miller in Freeman, Wash.; plus nine grandchildren and 2 1/2 great-grandchildren.

We are very grateful to Heather Gray and all the staff at Generations Assisted Living in Rathdrum for making her last years comfortable and pleasant.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, at South Hill Bible Church, 958 E. 29th Ave., Spokane. Please make memorial contributions to South Hill Bible Church's missions.

Please sign Elizabeth's guest registry and view her online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.