Hermine Gilson

Hermine "Mena" Ruckes Gilson of Pendleton was born in Germany on October 25, 1937. Born in Siegen, Germany she grew up in the nearby smaller town of Betzdorf. She lived through WW2 Germany with starvation, hiding in the woods from bombardments, and very limited medications.  Mena married her GI boyfriend, John Gilson, on January 1, 1958. She came to the US in 1958 and became a citizen in 1960. For many years, she was an Army wife and moved frequently. She was able to turn an empty house into a comfortable home in a weekend. When John retired from the Army they settled in Northern Virginia and in 2010 they relocated to Pendleton to be close to their grown children.

Mena was incredibly good at doing crossword puzzles; she did them in pen! She was a wonderful seamstress and made most of her kids and her own clothes. She knit dozens of colorful lap robes for patients at St. Anthony Hospital. Mena loved to watch the birds keeping her bird bath and feeders well stocked no matter how bad the weather got. She loved her trips to the Oregon Coast and greatly appreciated the beauty of the state. Mena would never be seen without her lipstick and earrings, and she had a special affinity for nice shoes and purses.

Mena was much stronger than she looked. As a child she survived a ruptured appendix despite the lack of penicillin during the war. She survived a heart attack in September 1999 and had two stents put in. Several strokes proved to be more than her body could stand and, after two difficult months, she passed quietly on June 9, 2024.

Mena is survived by her husband, John Gilson, daughter Alice (Gordon) Hepburn and son Tikhon “Andrew” Gilson all of Pendleton. She is also survived by family and many very good friends, both near and far, who will miss her terribly.

A celebration of her life is scheduled for 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 2nd at First Presbyterian Church, 201 SW Dorion Ave, Pendleton. Mena would appreciate donations in her memory made to the Pioneer Humane Society/PAWS or First Presbyterian Church in Pendleton or a cause of your choosing.

Arrangements are with Pendleton Pioneer Chapel / Folsom-Bishop.