Ruth was born in rural Detroit Lakes, Minnesota to Oscar & Hannah Peterson, the youngest of five children, Dennis, Pete, and Myrt (young sister Hannah died prior to Ruth's birth.) She grew up on a farm and enjoyed and endured farm life during her childhood through high school years. Though she was a "child of the depression" living on a farm did provide food for the family table.

While her parents could not offer in material "things", they modeled confidence in God throughout a faith-filled life. Her entry into high school years also began a sorrowful time period. It was the beginning of WWII. Her family was heavily impacted then by the loss of her oldest brother, Dennis, who died in the famous Bataan death march. Yet, a positive during this sad time was her journey to faith in Jesus Christ.

She attended Fargo (ND) business college followed by secretarial work in Chicago and her hometown. Later she attended Trinity College. It was here she met Norman Ericson from Holdrege, Nebraska. Following a three-year courtship they were married in 1954, at the First Evangelical Free Church (Summerdale) in Chicago.

Norman began his studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) and Ruth continued to work as well as stay involved in regular church activities, which included Sunday School teaching, Pioneer Girls and choir (always choir!) She sang for a time with the Swedish Choral Club who annually performed Handel's Oratorio Messiah at Orchestra Hall in Chicago. These involvements were then supplanted by helping Norm who became Student youth pastor at the Winnetka Bible Church during his seminary years.

Norm and Ruth sang together for several years until child rearing became the prominent role in her life. Though she kept unusually busy sharing responsibilities with Norm in his busy schedule, she was pleased to be a full-time mom during the children's early years, owing to Norm's willingness to carry extra jobs.

She re-entered the "working world" as a part-time secretary at TEDS.  When Norm began his career at Wheaton College,  she again became a part-timer at CBI, (now World Venture) as Medical secretary. She thoroughly enjoyed working with this fine organization and their missionaries for 21 years in the home office. Also, for 15+ years Ruth has been one of many telephone counselors at the Billy Graham Center during their telecasts.

Ruth always enjoyed her Swedish heritage (100%), her mother being born in Smoland, Sweden, and her father a son of Swedish immigrants. Thus she grew up in a bilingual home. During Norm's sabbatical in England they took time out to visit Sweden. It was a privilege to "walk where her mother had walked" (to school). She and Norm (likewise a 100%er), also visited his relatives in Stockholm and Oskarshamn, Sweden.

Norm and Ruth enjoyed traveling and were happy to have traversed the USA as well as many foreign countries, including three trips to the Holy lands with Wheaton College students. They enjoyed their interaction with students, many who have become lifelong friends. Ruth's spare moments usually found her engrossed in the daily crossword puzzle, but she found special satisfaction in her morning Bible reading and prayer - a time of intercession and blessing.

Ruth was preceded by her husband, Norman after 57 years of marriage. She is survived by four children, Brian (Jeani) Ericson of Salem, WI, Beth (Dave) Sanders of Carol Stream, Stuart (Bari) Ericson of Wheaton and Ken (Rebecca) Ericson of Elgin, nine grandchildren, Steve and Holly (Darel) Keiser, Thomas (Hannah) and Jon Sanders, Dan and Katy Ericson, and Matthew, Alyssa, and Nathan Ericson, two great-grandchildren, Madison and Sydney, and sisters-in-law, Mayme Peterson & Delores (Mark) Nilson.

A visitation will be held on Friday, September 18 from 4 until 8 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 19 at 10:00 a.m. at College Church , 332 E. Seminary Ave. in Wheaton. Interment will follow at Wheaton Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Wycliffe Bible Translators or Windsor Park Benevolent Fund.