wfn.org | Betty Lee Nyhus, Former Women of the ELCA Director, Dies

[NEWS@ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 10, 2003

Betty Lee Nyhus, Former Women of the ELCA Director, Dies
03-201-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Betty Lee Nyhus, 72, former executive
director of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), died Nov. 4 at her home in Edina, Minn.
     A memorial service took place Nov. 8 at St. Stephen Lutheran
Church, Bloomington, Minn., where Nyhus and her husband, Leroy,
were members.
     Nyhus served as the first executive director for Women of
the ELCA from 1987 to 1988.  She coordinated Women of the ELCA's
constituting convention July 11-14, 1987, in Milwaukee, and also
served as coordinator for two national women's conventions of the
former American Lutheran Church (ALC).	The ALC and two other
Lutheran church bodies merged to form the ELCA in 1987.
     "We celebrate the life and ministry of Betty Lee Nyhus.  As
the first executive director of Women of the ELCA, Betty Lee well
understood the women of our congregations.  She knew their lives
and their capabilities; and she had an ability to bring out the
best of what they could accomplish.  When it comes to
conventions, women still remember Betty's meticulous attention to
detail and the way in which she carried out the constituting
convention with such grace and style.  Our organization is richer
for her contributions," said Linda Post Bushkofsky, executive
director, Women of the ELCA.
     At its Oct. 23-26 meeting in San Antonio, Texas, the
executive board of Women of the ELCA honored Nyhus by purchasing
a brick in her name from the Lutheran World Relief Quilt Plaza,
Baltimore.  Lutheran World Relief (LWR) is the overseas relief
and development ministry of the ELCA and the Lutheran Church-
Missouri Synod.  LWR is based in Baltimore.
     Nyhus served on the LWR board from 1991 to 1999.
     "She was a strong advocate for Lutheran World Relief's
mission and ministry," said Kathryn Wolford, LWR director.
     "Betty Lee was a major proponent of LWR's emphasis on gender
equity, having traveled overseas and seen firsthand the
discrimination faced by poor women and the tragic consequences of
women's exclusion from family and community decision making,"
Wolford said.
     "She helped put LWR at the forefront of efforts to integrate
gender into all aspects of our organizational life and programs.
She also was a strong voice for quilters and the role they place
in LWR's ministry," she said.
     In 1988 Nyhus became director for designated giving in the
ELCA Commission for Financial Support.	In 1991 the commission
became part of the ELCA Division for Congregational Life,
changing Nyhus' role to director for stewardship and mission
giving.  She retired from that position in 1998.  From 1979 to
1987, Nyhus served as director for stewardship in the American
Lutheran Church Women.
     "Betty Lee was ahead of her time in her leadership of
mission funding.  She was a mentor to me and many others in
stewardship ministry," said Nancy L. Snell, director for
stewardship and mission giving, Division for Congregational
Ministries.
     Nyhus earned a degree in stewardship from the University of
Minnesota, Minneapolis, in 1952.  She attended Augsburg College,
Minneapolis, from 1949 to 1951.  Augsburg is one of 28 college
and universities of the ELCA.
     Nyhus organized a "Meals on Wheels" program, developed 4-H
programs for inner-city youth and mentally-challenged adults, and
served as an area coordinator for the Girl Scouts in Ramsey
County, Minn.
     In addition to her husband, Nyhus is survived by three
daughters -- Carol, Diane and Ruth.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news