Ronald L. Roth

Ronald Lee Roth was born on March 3, 1938, the eldest son of Richard and Ann Roth in Worthington, Minnesota. He attended school in Ruthton, Minnesota. He worked on the farm growing up and was fiercely loyal to his younger siblings, Richard, Shirley, and Connie. He met his wife Audrey through her sister and they started dating while he worked at the bowling alley setting pins. They were united in marriage on April 25, 1957, in Flandreau, SD and settled in Pipestone in 1959 where they raised three daughters and a son. Ron had a natural talent and love for driving truck. He was a very skilled and sought-after semi driver and made a 60-year career moving livestock beginning with Claire Larson and wrapping up in 2021 as an owner-operator hauling refrigerated items with Henderschiedt Trucking. Ron passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family on Friday, January 5, 2024 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, South Dakota at the age of 85 years old.       

There were numerous things that made Ron the unique man he was to his family and friends. He was an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and he enjoyed socializing as often as possible at coffee or community events. He had a rollicking sense of humor, more good tales than he could ever tell, and had a gentle empathy that drew folks to him. He liked practical jokes like waking his kids up with shaving cream on their noses, but was equally paternal and attended to his loved ones with endless patience. He had a strong work ethic and was friends with countless fellow truck drivers due to his sunny disposition and generous heart. Ron embodied the adage that he would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He gladly offered help to anyone and once gave his only winter coat to a stranger, much to his wife’s chagrin. Although he started his career back in the days of an atlas and a handwritten log book, he was exceptional at logistics. Ron could recall directions down to the exact mile marker, and could back up a trailer perfectly in the tightest of spots. In an industry known for times of “hurry up and wait” he never complained or lost his love for the road. In his remarkable career of accumulating millions of miles, he prided himself on never being involved in a preventable accident.

Ron was a humble man who led by example. For those lucky enough to know him, they can confirm that he had uncompromising integrity and an impeccable devotion to his family. Like a modern cowboy, he was a mix of seeming opposites: strong yet kind, hardworking yet fun loving, solitary yet social. He loved to tease and be teased; he loved to both hear and tell a good story and he had as many of them as he had miles driven. He was a night owl and enjoyed sleeping in whenever Audrey would let him. He loved being on the dance floor at a wedding and no one had more fun than he did. He believed strongly in always leaving a generous tip in the numerous restaurants and truck stops he frequented over the years. He was an old-fashioned gentleman and could always be relied on to carry a hanky in his pocket. Ron was a long-time admirer of Billy Graham and Paul Harvey. He was a prolific purveyor of various ‘Ron-isms’ – expressions that his family fondly refer to, such as “save the juice” when he wanted his kids to turn the lights off or “GOT to go” when he waited until the last possible moment to leave. When he wasn’t working, Ron enjoyed watching old John Wayne movies or laughing out loud to Laurel and Hardy or the Three Stooges. He couldn’t get enough of eating oyster stew each Christmas, loved to crack open a cold PBR, and was known to sneak chocolate in the middle of the night. He was also a fan of Tabasco sauce, chewing tobacco, and gravy bread ‘like Ma made it.’ He was the life of the party, passionate about politics, and was fiercely independent. Ron was filled with faith in God and love for his family and he will be dearly missed.

Ron is survived by his children, Cindy (Randy) Jasper of Pipestone, Randy (Judy) Roth of Alpha, MN, Jodi (Nathan) Nelson of Hendricks, MN and Jill (Henry) Kraai of Charles City, IA; 13 grandchildren: Blair, Blake, Blaine, Dustin, Dallas, Lindsey, Britni, Bethani, Chase, Madisen, Mason, Taylor, and Morgan and 17 great-grandchildren; brother Richard of Hillside, New York, and sister Connie of Jasper, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years Audrey; parents, Richard and Ann Roth; and his sister, Shirley (Rinehold) Bittner.