Elisabeth Elliot

Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015) was a Christian author and speaker. Her first husband, Jim Elliot was killed in 1956. (see separate entry for Auca 5).

After the death of the Auca 5 she spent 2 years as a missionary to the tribe which killed her husband. 2 Huaorani women living among the Quichua taught her the Huaola language. She was given the name ‘Gikari’ which means ‘Woodpecker’.

She later returned to the Quichua and worked with them until 1963.

In 1969 she married Addison Leitch, a professor of theology.He died in 1973.

In the mid 1970s she ws onreof the stylistic consultants for the committee of the New International Version of the Bible (NIV) - she is listed as a contributor.

In 1977 she married Lars Gren a hospital chaplain. They later worked and travelled together.

From 1988-2001 she could be heard daily on the radio programme Gateway to Joy.

In her later years she and Lars stopped travelling but kept in touch with the public through email and their website. She suffered for 10 years with dementia. Elisabeth died in magnolia, Massachusetts on 15th June 2015 aged 88.