Runge retired in 1994. Runge received honorary doctorates from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy (Doctor of Science) and Ohio Northern University (Doctor of Pharmacy) in recognition of her work for the profession. She was named Pharmacist of the Year in 1978 by the California Pharmacists Association. Runge was inducted into the California Pharmacists Association Hall of Fame in 1997. In 1996, she received the Hugo H. Schaefer Award from APhA. Runge died on January 8, 2014. Her memorial service was held on Saturday, February 15 at the First United Methodist Church in Modesto, California. APhA created a posthumous scholarship in her name.