Rodney Roth, 80
Rodney Gene Roth, 80 years old (of Bridgewater, S.D.), passed away unexpectedly at his farm on Feb. 9, 2024. A funeral service was held Friday, Feb. 16 at Salem Lutheran Church in Parkston, S.D., with burial at the Congregational Church Cemetery.
Rodney was born in Freeman, S.D., on Jan. 16, 1944. He was the third child of Ida Sophia (Schoppert) and Elmer Fred Roth. Rodney attended country school at Gross District 64 and later Freeman High School (graduating in 1962). He married Renee Christensen (of Freeman) in 1964, and three daughters were born of this 28-year union. The couple started out in Tyndall, S.D. and Yankton, S.D., and then moved to Minneapolis, Minn., where Rodney attended Dunwoody College of Technology, graduating in 1967 with a certificate in tool and die making. Rodney worked with metals for three years before returning to South Dakota in 1970 after his father’s farm accident and taking over the family farm in 1973. Rodney enjoyed hunting, trapping, football, backpacking, playing darts, going to church, and spending time with loved ones. In 1981 he helped found Hope Lutheran Church (Freeman). Later he volunteered with the M-2 Program that helps prison innates integrate back into society. Most recently, he gardened and donated fresh vegetables to the Diamond Care Center in Bridgewater.
Rodney is survived by his three daughters (Lori Lassen, LuAnne Roth and Lynae Roth and husband Joel Dombovy), his fiancé Donna Fauth (of Bridgewater) and her children (Kyle Tucker and Joel Fauth and wife Krystal Fauth), his brother and sister-in-law (Kenny and June Roth), his three nieces and nephews (Karla Rebo, Craig Roth, and Suzette Oolman), and his five grandchildren and five step-grandchildren. Rodney is also survived by the mother of his children along with his second wife (Debbie Cable) and her three children. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister (Phyllis Giedd), and two nephews (Mark Giedd and Bryan Roth).
Memorial donations may be made to South Dakota’s National Wildlife Turkey Federation.
