~ by Julia Pearson
John and Mildred Letsinger raised their daughter Lyn in Fort Wayne, Indiana for the first 14 years of her life. John was the assistant plant manager of International Harvester. The family moved to the Chicago area when he was promoted to overseas production manager.
Lyn found her career inspiration while studying journalism in high school. She was editor of the school paper and was chosen as the student reporter for the high school highlights page of the daily newspapers issued by Paddock Publications in the western suburbs of Chicago. After graduation in 1968, the same news organization hired her for a summer reporting job.
With press credentials and a news photographer alongside, Lyn embarked on an electrifying and historic experience, going to Grant Park a week before the fateful 1968 Democratic National Convention. She interviewed the gathering political operatives of all stripes, Yippies, and activist singers of the era, in essence scooping the rallies, protests, and the riot that are now in history books.
Entering Indiana University in Bloomington that fall, Lyn reported for the Indiana Daily Student, and decided to switch her focus from print journalism to radio and television.
For 20 years, Lyn became well-known in TV news broadcasting, breaking down barriers for other women to follow. Two voices in Lyn’ s life influenced her. Her father’ s voice, always present, told her she could do anything, in spite of any restrictions. He had been an All-American football player at Purdue and played with the Pittsburg Steelers. She credits him for her drive and competitiveness, as well as her love of all sports.
photo by Cindy Steele
Sylvia Begun, mother of her Fort Wayne roommate, Wynne Begun, has been an enduring role model. Sylvia found her way in a new country and had this steely wisdom:“ Girls, you are responsible for your own happiness. Not a man, not a job. Just you.”
While working at a TV station in Fort Wayne, Lyn met her husband, Leo Miller, a news photographer. The couple was later hired by Channel 6, WRTV in Indianapolis, where Lyn was the first female news producer working in a variety of positions, including 11 p. m. show producer and on-location producer. Leo worked as photographer and editor.
They moved to Brown County in 1981 after building a cabin, commuting to the Indy station. Their son Blair was born in Bloomington Hospital and grew up in Brown County.
Lyn taught journalism at Indiana University for ten years, and Leo went into private production. Lyn worked for the Brown County Democrat for a year and a half, getting to know the area in a deeper way and writing features about the artists of the early art colony.
52 Our Brown County May / June 2023