Ruth E. Fardig, 95, died May 17, 2018.
Ruth was born in Chicago on May 27, 1922, to Swedish immigrants Nils and Mathilda Rosencrantz. Ruth earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and piano performance at Northwestern University. She married Sheldon Fardig in 1946. They moved to St. Paul in 1956 to teach music at Bethel College. They also teamed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Ruth as organist and accompanist and Sheldon directing choirs.
Ruth and Sheldon raised their boys in St. Anthony Park. After Sheldon died in 1997, Ruth married her widowed former pastor, William Hyllengren, the man who had hired her for her first organist position in Chicago. She and Bill shared five wonderful years until his death in 2004.
Ruth was music director and organist at Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel for 10 years before retiring at age 86. She continued to make music with her lifelong friend, Lois Stahl. The two performed four-hand piano duets with great skill and zest.
Ruth was preceded in death by husband Sheldon Fardig, second husband William Hyllengren, brother Carl and sister June Rosencrantz. Ruth is survived by a loving extended family, including four sons, Paul (Judith), Portland, Ore.; Stephen (Sandra), Kingston, N.Y.; Peter, Los Angeles, Calif.; and Timothy, Minneapolis.; five grandchildren; and devoted friend Kerstin Hammarberg of Minneapolis.
A remembrance service was held May 26 at Augustana Apartments.
