Allen Roth Obituary

Our Father, Allen Gene Roth, passed away peacefully in Mesa, Arizona, on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at a refined age of 94. A Memorial Service for Allen will be held at 11:00 a. m. on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at Schriver's Memorial Chapel, Aberdeen. A time of fellowship and luncheon will follow the service at Schriver's Memorial Fellowship Center. Burial will follow the luncheon at the Fairview Cemetery in Northville, SD. Visitation will be one hour before the service at Schriver's. Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www. schriversmemorial. com. Allen was born on October 26, 1928, in Faulk County, South Dakota, the third of five boys, to Robert W. Roth and Edith C. (Burke) Roth. Allen graduated from high school in Cresbard, South Dakota, in 1946, where he met and later married Irene Wilkins on November 4, 1948, 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. After their marriage, Mom and Dad tried farming for a few years but crops were poor and made it difficult to raise a family. So, Dad went to work for International Harvester and Mom for Northwestern Bell in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to pay their debts from farming. After International Harvester closed, Dad took a job with the local John Deere store. When the Aberdeen John Deere store closed in 1965, Dad transferred to the John Deere store in Bismarck, North Dakota, to work in their parts department. He was later made manager of that department. In 1982 at the age of 54, Dad retired with a full pension after working with them for over 20 years. Mom retired in 1983 from Northwestern Bell, after which their dancing careers took off. Dad became a Modern Western Square Dance Caller for the local Scatterwood Community Club in South Dakota starting in 1954. When he retired from calling 40 years later in 1994, he had taught and called square dancing in Canada, all through South Dakota and North Dakota, and down to Arizona. Mom and Dad loved this adventure in life, teaching others to square 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 John Deere and Northwestern Bell, Mom and Dad became 'snowbirds' traveling back and forth in their motor home between the Dakotas 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. In addition to work and square dancing, Dad took his children camping and fishing. He taught us how to shoot and hunt with a shotgun, rifle, and bow and arrow. One of his hobbies later in life was wood carving. He made dozens of carvings-birds, fish, and wild game animals because of his love for the outdoors-all for his kids and grandkids. Allen is survived by his lovely wife of 74 years, Irene; daughter, Linda Ehreth of Ostego, MN; and five sons: Curtis Roth of Ammon, ID, Russel Roth of Gillette, WY, Bruce Roth of Northglenn, CO, and Steven Roth of Tetonia, ID. He is also survived by his brother Gary Roth of Aberdeen, SD. Together Mom and Dad created a family that included 16 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Allen's Mom and Dad; brothers: Elmer, LaVerne, and Bobby; and grandsons Robi and Evan, all preceded him in passing on to Heaven. Allen was an excellent role and all-around great dad. All of us were blessed by his love and caring, and proud to call him Father. He has earned and deserves the right to rest from his loving labor of life that spanned more than 94 years.