Ruth Ellen Hill Lindstrom

Ruth Ellen Hill Lindstrom, age 101, passed away on March 7, 2026. Born on April 26, 1924, in Akron, Ohio, she moved with her parents, Charles and Ruth (Larson) Hill, and younger sister Doris to Merrill, Wisconsin, in 1927 to help on the family potato farm on Swede Road. The oldest of eight children, Ruth grew up immersed in farm life, attending Emmanuel Covenant Church on Genesee Street, a one-room schoolhouse, and later Merrill Senior High School, from which she graduated in 1942.

In 1946, she married Wilbert John “Wibs” Lindstrom, and together they made their home at 400 Superior Street in Merrill, a cherished property filled with trees and flowers that welcomed family and friends. There they raised their five children while sharing their household with Grandpa John Lindstrom and Rev. Arthur Gustafson. Ruth’s life revolved around family, hard work, and deep commitment to her faith. She was an active member of Emmanuel Covenant Church and later Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Merrill. She and Wibs spent winters in Tucson, Arizona, where they worshipped at Grace Community Covenant Church and volunteered with Wycliffe Associates. Their travels together included Mexico, the Holy Land, Alaska, Sweden, and Åland Island, Finland.

Ruth remained steadfast in her devotion to Jesus Christ throughout her life. She read her Bible and devotionals daily, prayed faithfully for her family and others, and quietly cared for those around her through listening and presence. She was known for her Swedish rye bread, which she baked by the hundreds to share, and for the thoughtful, personalized cards she sent for every occasion. An accomplished seamstress, she created quilts and memory bears for her loved ones, and she enjoyed painting, including works of praying hands and her beloved Covenant church.

Preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wilbert, two brothers, three sisters, and her son Daniel, Ruth is survived by her sister Joyce Messerschmidt of Sturtevant, Wisconsin, her brother David Hill of Phoenix, Arizona, and her four children: David Lindstrom of Merrill, Wisconsin; Julia Ruth (Roy) Eberhardt of Tucson, Arizona; James (Vivette) Lindstrom of Salem, Missouri; and Paul Lindstrom of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She leaves behind eight grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, ten great-great-grandchildren, and many extended family members and friends who will remember her warm spirit, generosity, and unwavering faith.