Biography

Ingrid Rüütel (née Ruus; born November 3, 1935) is an Estonian folklorist and philologist. From 2001 to 2006 she was the First Lady of Estonia, married to President Arnold Rüütel. Ingrid Rüütel was born in Tallinn as a daughter of communist politician Neeme Ruus and his wife actress Linda Karin Ruus (née Aruküll). Her father was killed by the German Army during World War II in 1942. In 1958, Ingrid married Arnold Rüütel. They have two daughters and six grandchildren.