Betty J. Wilke, nee Gaultney, 86, of Collinsville, Ill., born Aug. 21, 1925, in East St. Louis, Ill., passed away at 8:50 a.m. Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, at Anderson Hospital, Maryville, Ill.



Mrs. Wilke attended St. Paul's Lutheran School in Troy, Ill., and graduated from McCray Dewey High School in Troy, Ill., in 1943. She was office manager at Molitor (later Heritage) Lincoln Mercury in Collinsville 1959-1992. She was a long time Sunday school teacher in the Lutheran faith, volunteered for Faith in Action, Anderson Hospital Auxiliary and as a library aid at Holy Cross Lutheran grade school in Collinsville. She belonged to the Lutheran Women's Missionary League and O.W.L.S. at Holy Cross Church, where she was a long time member of the congregation. Mrs. Wilke was well known in the Collinsville community for her kindness and acts of charity to anyone who was in need.



Betty was married to Arthur C. Wilke Jr., on Jan. 9, 1944, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Troy, Ill. The Wilkes were blessed with four sons, Dennis (Darilyn) Wilke of Collinsville, and triplet boys, Terry (Rosalie) Wilke of Maryville, Gary (Kathy Willis) Wilke of Collinsville, and Jerry who died at birth. In addition to her three sons, Mrs. Wilke is survived by her seven grandchildren, Denise Manker, Diane Coppotelli, Autumn (Andy) Schoeck, Allison (Mathew) Dionne, Andrew Wilke, Tyler Wilke, and Brett Willis, as well as a step grandchild, Chris Merzer. Her great-grandchildren are Nicholas Manker, Hannah Manker, Guiseppi Coppotelli, Sydney Jane Schoeck and Benjamin Schoeck and step great-grandchild, Samantha Coppotelli.



Siblings of the deceased are Frances Kohl, Virginia Niebruegge, and Phyllis Weatherspoon all of Troy, Ill., Walter Bud Gaultney of St. Jacob, Kenneth Gaultney of O'Fallon, Frieda Sponemann of Collinsville, and Irene Kohl of Collinsville, (deceased).



Mrs. Wilke was preceded in death by infant son, Jerry Lee Wilke in 1950; husband, Arthur in 1986; her parents, Walter and Gladys Gaultney; and her sister, Irene Kohl.



Memorials may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.herrfuneral.com.



Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 2, 2012, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Collinsville, Ill.



Funeral: Memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, March 2, 2012, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Collinsville, Ill.