Ragnhild Catharina Stockenström, 85, of Chicago, Illinois, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2025, with her three children by her side.

Ragnhild was born in Umeå, Sweden, May 27, 1940, to Astrid and Bror Ehrland. She was the fourth of six sisters. She grew up in the Northern Swedish city of Umeå, spending summers on the Baltic at the family summer home in Sörböle, Västerbotten, Sweden. At the age of thirteen her family moved to Sala, Sweden where she completed her primary schooling, Studentexamen, Sala Allmänna Högre Läroverk in 1960. She subsequently matriculated from the The Royal Academy of Gymnastics, Centralinstitutet, Stockholm, Sweden in 1962. She settled in Uppsala, Sweden where she married and worked as physical education instructor at the Cathedral School. In 1976 she emigrated to Saint Paul, Minnesota with her husband and three children. She continued teaching physical education, adult movement classes at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. In 1983 she completed certification as a Alcohol and Drug Counselor, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota. Returning to Sweden in 1983, she returned to full time work as a physical education teacher and also worked part time as a Alcohol and drug therapist and educator, Alfa Foundation, Uppsala, Sweden. In 1995 she completed certification as a Rosenmethod practitioner, Axelsons Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, and Rosen Institute, USA. She then worked as a Rosen practitioner for the next 15 years and served as a consultant in her previous roles. She authored and published three books, including, Skapande Gymnastik (Creative Gymnastics), 1973, Alkoholism: en behandlingsbar familjesjukdom (Alcoholism: a treatable family illness) (Co authored with Orla Lehman and Hans Lundberg) 1984, and Mina barn är på andra sidan Atlanten (My children are on the other side of the Atlantic), 2011. In 2010, after 27 years residing in Sweden, she remigrated to the USA, settling in Chicago, Illinois, close to her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her children Truda, Trond (Saba) and Tone (Richard); her five grandchildren Torin (Justin), Olivia, Emma, Paulo, and Nils; her sisters Astrid, Brita, and Ingrid. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Barbro and Monika; and ex husband Gôran.

Ragnhild loved spending time with family and her many friends. She was an accomplished weaver, making beautiful blankets for her family. Her favorite place was Cornucopia, Wisconsin, where she would annually spend her summer months by Lake Superior, surrounded by nature, family and friends. She found joy in the arts and was a member of the Chicago Art Institute. She was spiritual, kind, bright, and generous. She was a member of the Fourth Presbyterian Church, Swedish American Museum and the SVEA organization of Chicago.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., November 7th at the Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut Street, Chicago, IL 60611. A reception will follow at 4 p.m., Anderson Hall.

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