Paynee Lysne

Paynee O. Lysne (April 22, 1920 - June 27, 2011)

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired, U. S. Army) Paynee Owen Lysne was born on April 22, 1920 on a large wheat farm in North Dakota. He attended North Dakota Agricultural College (now, North Dakota State University), majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Military Science. He took flight training under the Civilian Pilot Training Program.

He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant, Infantry, and was called to active duty in June, 1942. He participated in the invasion of North Africa and then transferred to 5th Army for additional flight training in "L" Type aircraft. After qualifying as an airborne observer, he flew reconnaissance missions in support of the amphibious landings at Salerno and Anzio during the Italian campaign. On his return to the United States, he was assigned to Fort Sill, OK where he married Mary LaVon Otto on June 7, 1944 in the Post Chapel. He was a flight and classroom instructor at the Aviation School.

Subsequent assignments included assignments as the Aviation Officer in the 36th Field Artillery Group in Babenhausen, Germany (previously designated as the 7732nd Field Artillery Group in Sonthofen), 4th Army Aviation Training Officer at Fort Sam Houston, TX., Commanding Officer of the 8th Army Flight Detachment in the Republic of Korea, Commanding Officer of the Military Assistance Advisory Group Flight Detachment in Tokyo, Japan, Senior Aviation Advisor to the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces, and Deputy Assistant Commandant at the Primary Helicopter School at Camp (now Fort) Wolters, Texas.

During his assignments in Korea and in Japan, he was the Aide and Personal Pilot to General I.D. White, the Commanding General of Army Forces in the Far East, and Personal Pilot for Syngman Rhee, the President of South Korea.

He retired from the Army in 1963, and was the Airfield Manager of Redstone Airfield at the U.S. Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, where he was an Instructor and Instrument Flight Examiner for a fleet of four engine, twin engine, single engine aircraft and helicopters. He medically retired from Civil Service in 1971.

He and his wife (Billy Jo "Robinson" Lysne) were devoted members of Briarlake Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. Billy Jo passed away on February 21, 2008. They were married for nearly 50 years.

He will be buried alongside his parents Adolph P. Lysne and Anna Marie "Thompson" Lysne.

Paynee is survived by Dianne and Chuck Keil (daughter & son-in-law)

LTC (Ret) Bruce and Diane Lysne (son & daughter-in-law)

Dagney Panyan ( sister)

Alpha and Morris Aaser (sister & brother-in-law)

Mary Ann Hermanson (sister)

Joe and Abby Keil (grandson & wife)

Jennifer Frownfelter (granddaughter)

Matt and Rania Keil (grandson & wife)

Cindy and Joel Bridwell (granddaughter and husband)

Kailey and Emily Frownfelter (great-granddaughters)

Connor Bridwell (great-grandson)

Soraya and Yasmine Keil (great-granddaughters)

Memorial services for Paynee will be Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 11:00 AM in the Sheyenne Lutheran Church, rural Pekin, ND.