Emogene Elizabeth Hiersche Hill

HIERSCHE HILL — Emogene Elizabeth, 95; born Nov. 5, 1921, Madison, S.D.; died Feb. 1, 2017, Pendleton, Ore. Surviving: son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Julie Hiersche, Ellensburg, Wash.; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Chris Lundquist, Pendleton, Ore.; 4 grandchildren, Becky and Richard Caswell, Pendleton; Michael and Jessica Hiersche, Chico, Calif.; Stephen and Kyndre Lundquist, Happy Valley, Ore.; Matthew and Joy Hiersche, Fresno, Calif.; and 7 great-grandchildren, Hannah Caswell, Abigail Caswell and Emma Caswell, all of Pendleton; Liam Hiersche and Finn Hiersche, Chico; Kate Lundquist and Jack Lundquist, both of Happy Valley.

Emogene Elizabeth Hiersche Hill age 95, long-time Pendleton resident and business owner, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2017, at Sun Ridge Retirement Community in Pendleton, Ore.

She was born on Nov. 5, 1921, the daughter of I.E. “Irvin” and Elsie (Batson) Smith, on the family farm near Madison, S.D. She received her high school education at Plainview Academy, an Adventist boarding school in Redfield, S.D. Following her graduation, she and her mama hitchhiked from Madison to College Place, Wash., so Emogene could attend Walla Walla College for pre-nursing. She graduated in 1945 from the Portland Sanitarium and Hospital School of Nursing.

Emogene was temporarily helping her brother at his Milton-Freewater drive-in when she met a handsome Oregon State Trooper who stopped by for a snack. They dated while she worked as an RN at St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton. She married the “love of her life,” Donald Hiersche, on Aug. 16, 1950.

The newlyweds made their first home in Portland, Ore., where their daughter, Susan, and son, Dan, were born. The Hiersches moved to Pendleton to build Hiersche’s Nursing Home in 1960. They worked together as a team to provide the same loving care to each patient that they would want for their own parents. Don worked as nursing home administrator while Emogene worked as Director of nUrses.

The highlight of Emogene’s life was her great love for her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Many years of treasured memories were made at the family cabin on Wallowa Lake. After their retirement in 1977, Don and Emogene spent their time traveling, visiting their children and grandchildren as well as doing self-supporting missionary work for their church. They joined Maranatha Volunteers International and built churches and schools in countries around the world.

When Don died after almost 49 years of marriage, Emogene continued to love and cherish times spent with her family and friends. She was known for her quick wit, spunk and caring.

Emogene was a lifelong member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The amazing love of God was central to her life. One of her favorite hobbies was volunteering at her church and also Harris Junior Academy, the Adventist school in Pendleton.

In 2001, she married a friend from high school, Herb Hill. They were both widowed, and were happy to find companionship together. Emogene chose to spend the last 11 years of her life at Sun Ridge Retirement Community owned by her dear friends, Carol and Rolly Biegler.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Donald Hiersche; her second husband, Herb Hill; and her brothers, Hap Smith of Sunnyside, Wash.; and Dale Smith of Weston, Ore.