Ramsey (or Ramse) Mostoller was born in Kansas City, Missouri as Ruth Marie Zielke, the daughter of Alta M. and Gustav A. Zielke (sometimes spelled Ziehlke). She graduated from Westport High School in Kansas City in 1937. After college, she married and divorced before becoming a costume designer (as Ramse Stevens), working on such stage productions as "Kiss Me Kate" and "A Thurber Carnival". She married fellow costume designer Joe Mostoller. She died in New Jersey in 2004.