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LUETSCHER Antonie Elizabeth ("Betty")
Birth: 25 May 1916 Ill.
Death: 15 Oct 2012 St. Louis, Mo.
Burial: 20 Oct 1916
Notes
Mo Marr Records on ancestry.com idx'd as Luetsch but signed with er at end
could be Antoine
on Cal Birth Idx is LUETSCHER
1930 in Peru, LaSalle Co., Ill.
1940 in Arispie, Bureau Co., Ill., as Betty, social worker at private hospital
ssn as Elizabeth L Flaig issued in Mo. 1960-61, no last resid indicated
http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/metro/news/article_5ce31e62-efbd-56c4
-aff0-0579eb151f97.html (29 Nov 2010)
Deep-water diva stepping down
94-year-old has led aquatic aerobics classes for more than 20 years at West County
YMCA
Betty Flaig, 94, may be tinier than most of her deep water aerobics students at the
West County YMCA in Chesterfield.
"But I've referred to her as my chlorine-soaked drill instructor," said student Amanda
Heidemann, of Manchester.
After more than 20 years of being an icon of exercise for hundreds, Flaig, of
Chesterfield, has left for dry land. Her last class was Oct. 30.
Dozens of current and former students were among those at a Nov. 23 retirement party
for her that featured cake, gifts and the guest of honor dressed in red robes and a
diadem.
"She's amazing, with so much energy and such a positive outlook and attitude," said
Marilyn Pastorek, of Chesterfield, who was Flaig's student for only a couple of months.
Dianne Lordi, of Chesterfield, has enjoyed Flaig's 45-minute classes twice a week for
15 years.
"She's a demanding and challenging teacher" Lordi said. "You always felt you were
getting something from the class, and she's kept me flexible."
Flaig joined a water aerobics class not long after the West County YMCA opened its
doors on Burkhardt Place in 1989.
The class was led by Linda Pourchot, now association aquatics director for the YMCA
of Greater St. Louis and a former instructor/aquatics coordinator at the West County
Y.
About a year later, Pourchot approached Flaig about taking over as the instructor for
the 8:30 a.m. class. Flaig agreed.
From then on, Flaig was a regular volunteer instructor for classes on Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays.
"I took her class once, and she yelled at me when I wasn't in the proper alignment —
but I got a good, hard workout," Pourchot said, grinning.
Lisa Kramer, the West County Y's senior program director for aquatics, praised Flaig as
"very energetic, welcoming and warm, known for her grace and flexibility, like being
able to lift her leg up over her head."
Her flexibility is the result of ballet classes and dancing while a high school student in
LaSalle, Ill., where Flaig was known by her maiden name of Betty Luetscher.
She moved here in 1936 to attend Washington University, where she majored in social
work. She graduated in 1938 with a bachelor's degree. In 1942, she married her
husband, William Flaig, an architectural engineer, who died six years ago.
She has two sons, Joe and Jack, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. A
daughter, Ann, died in 2000.
In the early 1940s, Flaig studied home economics for a couple of years at the
University of Illinois — Champaign.
She taught food and nutrition in home economics classes between the 1960s and
1970s in the Parkway School District, as well as at Fontbonne University.
She's long been a volunteer, a longtime sacristan in her Anglican Church of the
Resurrection in West County, and an active member for 37 years of the Wednesday
Club of St. Louis, a social, educational and cultural group for women.
While opening presents, like a water bottle, T-shirt, cap, nativity scene and angel
figurines, Flaig admitted she's "made some very good friends, at a place where
everybody's so nice."
The feeling is mutual.
"I've gained from your indomitable spirit," Diana Raymond, of Wildwood, a seven-year
student. "I admire you and I don't think anyone else could inspire and motivate me so
much."
----
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) - Friday, October 19, 2012
Deceased Name: Flaig, Elizabeth L. 96
Flaig, Elizabeth L. 96, passed away, Monday, October 15, 2012. Beloved wife of the
late J. William Flaig; dear mother of Joseph W. (Judy) Flaig, John D. "Jack" (Martha
Peterson) Flaig and the late Ann Elizabeth (Timothy) DuLaney; grandmother of J.
Michael Flaig, James E. (Alison) Flaig, Amy L. (Sean) Mackey, Jennifer E. (Andrew)
Rachmiel, E. Thomas DuLaney, Caroline A. DuLaney and David T. DuLaney; great-
grandmother of Morgan, Anna, Abigail, Molly, Elliott, Davis and Garrett; godmother of
Jane Cox; and friend to many. Services: Memorial service at Church of the
Resurrection at the Lutheran Hour Ministries Building, 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive,
Creve Coeur, on Saturday, 1:00 p.m. Interment private. If desired, contributions may
be made to West County Family YMCA, 16464 Burkhardt Place, Chesterfield. A service
of the SCHRADER Funeral Home. Friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at
Schrader.com.
Edition: Third Edition
Parents
LUETSCHER Oliver P. ()
----- Adele ()
Siblings
LUETSCHER Antonie Elizabeth ("Betty") (25 May 1916 - 15 Oct 2012)
Marriage To FLAIG Joseph William (12 May 1914 - 8 Apr 2004)
m. 27 Jun 1942 St. Louis Co., Mo.
Notes
Parents
FLAIG Joseph M. J. (13 Aug 1882 - 28 Jul 1933)
NEAVE May P. (1 Aug 1883 - 13 May 1952)
Children by FLAIG Joseph William 12 May 1914 - 8 Apr 2004
FLAIG Joseph William ()
FLAIG John D. ("Jack") ()
FLAIG Ann Elizabeth (10 Mar 1952 - 3 Aug 2000)
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