(Updated Nov. 5 with link to full obituary notice.) Former Evanston-area REALTOR® Ruth Eleanor (Dell) Thiel, 89, died Oct. 27 at her home in Naples, FL.

A longtime member of the North Shore-Barrington Association of REALTORS® (NSBAR), Thiel served as its 1978 board president when it was known as the Evanston-North Shore Board. She also served on the National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors from 1978 to 1991 and the Illinois REALTORS® Board of Directors from 1977 to 1985. She was the state association’s 1984 REALTOR® of the Year.

She also served on the Women’s Council of REALTORS® (WCR), including 1973 as local chapter president and 1977 as the state president. In 1980, she was recognized by WCR for her mentoring with the Women in Real Estate award.

Her career included long affiliations with Mitchell Brothers Realtors and Koenig & Strey Realtors. She retired in 2000.

She served on the state oversight board, now known as the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. She was an alderman in Evanston.

A Dec. 10 memorial service will be held in Naples, FL, while a spring memorial service will be held in Illinois.