Elizabeth Luiese Husen Lynch
Elizabeth Luiese Husen Lynch was born March 19,1931 to Alfred ad Katie Husen in the town of Cavour, Beadle County, South Dakota. Luiese graduated as Valedictorian from Cavour High School in 1949. She went on to attend Huron College for 1 year and then taught in a one-room schoolhouse for 1 year. Then to General Beadle State Teachers’ College for Luiese, followed by a teaching job in Sisserton, South Dakota teaching 1st grade with over 30 students. While at Sissteron, Luiese was introduced to physical therapy when she visited a polio ward while attending a state teachers’ meeting. She then transferred to the University of Oklahoma and graduated with her degree in physical therapy in 1957. Her first place of employment was the Children’s Convalescent Hospital in Bethany, OK. A story she loved to tell was that after working with children for a couple of years she wondered if there was something else out there for her. While visiting with the OU physical therapy program chair she was offered a position teaching. Her first thought was, “I became a physical therapist to help people”, but then she decided if she helped more people become physical therapists, in the long run, it would help even more people. Thus, she embarked on her true calling: teaching at the OU Physical Therapy School for 35 years. Hundreds of students became better prepared Physical Therapists under her tutelage.
In 1964 Luiese married her husband, Wayne Lynch and together they shared many adventures. Wayne was a paraplegic and they met when she worked as his physical therapist. One of their adventures was when Luiese saved Wayne from drowning when their boat sank. Wayne traveled all over Oklahoma on a motorcycle with Luiese by his side, literally in the side car. Wayne passed away in 2010 again with Luiese at his side all the way. In 2011 Luiese moved to Coalgate where she lived independently for 5 years. Her last 2 1/2 years was in the competent, compassionate and loving care of Ruth Wilson Hurley Manor in Coalgate. She passed away from this life peacefully on the morning of April 28, 2019.
Luiese Lynch is survived by a brother, Herman Husen of Rochester, MN; Kay Helms and husband Phillip of Coalgate; sister-in-laws, Helen Husen of Sioux Falls, SD and Rebecca Husen of Syracuse, NY; nieces, Cynthia Husen of Sioux Falls, SD, Anna Abboud and husband Eli of Syracuse, NY, Noelle Larson and husband Scott of Rochester, MN and Katie Brister and husband Brad of Kenefic, OK; nephew, John Husen of Sioux Falls, SD; great nieces and nephews, Lyla Abboud of Syracuse, NY, Leif, Sigurd and John Larson of Rochester, MN and Kale Brister of Kenefic, OK.
She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne Lynch; parents, Alfred and Katie Husen and brothers, Luverne Husen and Everett Husen.