Supercentenarian Profile

Ruth Engström

Born:

1902-09-23

Madesjö (Nybro), Kalmar

Sweden

Died:

2013-12-02

Stockholm

Sweden

✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest

Rut Ingeborg Sofia “Ruth” Engström was a Swedish supercentenarian. Her age has been validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) and recognised by LongeviQuest.

BIOGRAPHY

Ruth Engström was born in Madesjö (Nybro), Kalmar County, Sweden, on 23 September 1902. In her hometown, her father was a baker who owned his own bakery. During elementary school, she met Folke Engström, who would later become her husband. He had been expected to take over his father’s glassworks, but the business went bankrupt and was later converted into a match factory under Ivar Krüger.

Ruth, a trained milliner, ran a small shop where she sold hats and accessories. She obtained her driver’s license at an early age, and her first car was a Packard. As a specialist in Krüger’s match machinery, Folke secured a position at factories in India, and Ruth accompanied him there in the early 1920s. The couple remained in India for more than 30 years. Their son Stig was born in Bombay, and their other son, Per, was born in Calcutta.

In the early 1950s, they returned to Sweden. In 1966, Folke died of lung cancer.

Ruth continued to live independently at home until the age of 100, even dyeing her own hair. She later moved into a nursing home. At 109, she experienced some hearing loss but took no medication, and until just a few months earlier, she had read the newspaper every day.

Ruth Engström passed away in Stockholm, on 2 December 2013, at the age of 111 years, 70 days.

RECOGNITION

Following the passing of 109-year-old Ester Johansson (25 March 1902 – 16 October 2011), she became the oldest living person in Sweden. Upon her own passing, she was succeeded by Ellen Vestling (14 February 1904 – 5 February 2014).

Engström’s age was verified by Jimmy Lindberg, and was validated by the ESO on 21 March 2022.