Ruth Darlene Nelson

Ruth was born on June 28, 1934, to her parents John & Matha Abderhalden in Portland, Oregon. At the age of 16, she graduated from Cleveland High School. She met her husband John at church, and they were married on August 21, 1953 – they were married for nearly 70 years! They lived in Milwaukie, in a home they built and added onto numerous times over the course of 64 years. They always had canine and feline companions.

Throughout her life, Ruth worked as a secretary, bookkeeper, and office controller. In her early years, she worked for Eastside Tool & Die, was the head secretary at Happy Valley Elementary, and retired from Mt. Scott Water District.

Ruth was a member of Gladstone Christian Church, where she also served as a church pianist. She was a PTA president and was always looking for new challenges by conducting exciting home sales in Tupperware and Creative Memories.

Ruth was highly creative and always strived to learn new things. She sewed her own clothing along with her daughter’s. She kept her mind sharp by continually learning, all while working full time. She was an excellent seamstress, and in the 50s she took the Bishop method of clothing construction classes in the evenings, and continued to excel on her own.

She was a self-taught knitter who made coat sweaters and baby blankets. She was a quilter, stained glass artist, and tole painter. She did macramé, scrapbooking, basket weaving, and oil painting, and in her later years she enjoyed quilting table runners for her family members. She didn’t allow reoccurring breast cancer and bladder cancer to slow her down. She continued to sew and knit for her loved ones. In addition to all of this, she loved planning vacations for herself and her husband, John.

Ruth will always be remembered for her love of family, her faith, and the creativity that she shared with others.

Ruth is survived by her husband John Franklin Nelson of Oregon City, daughter Johnene Laminack and her spouse Kenneth of Cool, TX, son Randy Nelson and his spouse Christi of Milwaukie, and son Brian Nelson and his spouse Dawn of Gresham. She is also survived by her grandchildren Kendra Skellenger, Jake Laminack, Amanda Nelson, Kyle Laminack, Bradley Nelson, Ashley Michels, and Caleb Nelson, as well as great-grandchildren Nolan Skellenger, Addison Skellenger, Sawyer Barr, Sosie Nelson, Delaney Barr, and Adara Michels. Ruth was predeceased by granddaughter Megan Nelson.

Charitable donations in memory of Ruth may be made to Gladstone Christian Church.