IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Irene Sylvia
Roth
February 13, 1930 – October 7, 2024
Our Mother, Irene (Wilkins) Roth, passed away peacefully in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Monday, October 7, 2024, having lived a long life of 94 years. Irene was born on February 13, 1930, in Cresbard, South Dakota. She was the third child and the first girl born to Raymond Wilkins and Bertha Rawden. She grew up on the family farm with her two older brothers, Howard and Keith, and her three younger sisters, Enid, Ardell, and Betty. Irene graduated from high school in Cresbard, South Dakota, in 1948. She first met Allen Roth at a barn dance where her father was a Traditional Square Dance caller when she was nine years old. They lived only a mile apart. She married Allen Roth on November 4, 1948, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Five children were fortunate to call them Mom and Dad: one daughter, Linda, and four boys, Curtis, Russell, Bruce, and Steven.
They tried farming for a few years but eventually lost the farm, so they found other work. Mom went to work for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a messenger operator and Dad found work at the International Harvester company. Dad later went to work at the John Deere store. When Dad's store closed in 1965, they both transferred their jobs to Bismarck, North Dakota. Mom retired after 28 years from Northwestern Bell Telephone as an Employment Manager in 1984. Dad also retired in 1984 with John Deere.
Dad became a Modern Western Square Dance Caller following in the footsteps of Mom's father. The two of them danced and taught Square Dancing, Round Dancing, and Clogging for over 40 years. Mom and Dad loved this adventure in life, teaching others to dance and making friends everywhere they went. This allowed them to take dozens of trips across the globe with their dancing friends.
After retiring from Northwestern Bell and John Deere, Mom and Dad became 'snowbirds' traveling back and forth in their motor home between the Dakota's and Arizona, 'depending on the weather.' They eventually settled in Arizona and built a home in the golfing community of Sunland Village East in Mesa, Arizona. When Dad passed away down in Mesa on July 12, 2023, at a refined age of 94, Mom moved up to Idaho Falls and made her home at the assisted living center, Fairwinds-Sandcreek.
Irene's Mom and Dad; brothers: Howard and Keith; sisters: Enid and Ardell; grandsons: Robi and Evan, and her husband of 74 years, Allen all preceded her in passing on to Heaven.
She is survived by Linda and Mike Ehreth (Otsego, Minnesota); Curtis and Melissa Roth (Ammon, Idaho); Russell and Carol Roth (Gillette, Wyoming); Bruce and Diane Roth (Northglenn, Colorado); and Steven Roth and Kathleen Devine (Tetonia, Idaho); and her sister Betty & Russ Arendsee (Arlington, South Dakota). Together Mom and Dad created a family that included 16 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
Mom was a loving and caring person who worked hard no matter the task and didn't mind getting her hands dirty. She loved and supported her children clear down the line to her great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Schriver's Memorial Chapel, 414 Fifth Avenue NW in Aberdeen at a date yet to be determined. Local arrangements are under the direction of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls.
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