Ruth Ramsdell Elfstrom, a longtime resident of Wheaton, Illinois, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 12, 2011. She was born September 7, 1911, in Caribou, Maine, and was a graduate of Higgins Classical Institute and Colby College, earning a BA degree in English literature.

Ruth became a teacher of English literature and dean of women at Lee Academy, a private New England secondary school. Ruth was a sales representative for Field Enterprises in Chicago for 10 years. She studied the pipe organ for four years at the American Conservatory of Music and became a member of the American Guild of Organists in 1945. Ruth served as both organist and choir director for two Chicago churches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and later served for many years as interim organist at the Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church. For 16 years she also privately taught students both piano and violin.

She is survived by two daughters, Debra (James) Costas and Judith (Richard) De Poe, both of Wheaton, IL; and two grandchildren, Timothy (Say) Liou and Lisa (Steve) Shebar. She also had three great-grandchildren: Kayla, Ben, and Michael Shebar.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Orin; and a grandson, Peter Liou.

Visitation will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., in Wheaton, IL where a funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. Private interment will follow at Wheaton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christian Aid Mission, P.O. Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906.