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Chicago (ELCA)-MR — 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.