The Graveside Service for Delmar Leo Roth, age 61, of Elgin, ND will be held at 2:00 p.m. CST on Friday, August 13, 2010 at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south Mandan, ND. Full military honors will be afforded by the Mandan VFW #707 and North Dakota National Guard Funeral Honors Team.


Delmar Leo Roth was born on December 11, 1948 in the Lorenzen Memorial Hospital in Elgin, North Dakota. He is the youngest son of Edwin and Emma (Ganthner)Roth. Delmar attended grade and high school in Elgin, North Dakota. Like the rest of the family, he spent his summers working on the farm. His after school and weekend hours during the winter were often spent sledding down the school hill with his brothers. In high school, Delmar was active in both music and drama. He sang in both the men's and mixed chorus; also in the church choir. After graduation from high school in 1967, he entered Dickinson State College in pursuit of an English degree. The English degree was realized, but only sixteen years later while working at Mary College. On November 21, 1969, Delmar married Darla in the Hope Congregational Church in Elgin, North Dakota. In 1969, Delmar transferred to the State School of Science at Wahpeton, North Dakota. He graduated in 1971 with an Associate of Arts Degree and a Technical Degree in Heating, Cooling, and Electrical.After graduation, he moved back to Elgin to start a heating and cooling business. Delmar entered the Army on November 17, 1971 and was honorably discharged on November 16, 1973. He spent most of his military career
stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Delmar was assigned as audio-video coordinator for the Armored Board of Engineers, a sergeant's job that he filled as a private. After his discharge from the military in 1973, Delmar moved to Mandan, North Dakota where he easily found employment as a maintenance mechanic at Sweatheart Bakery. In 1976, Delmar left the bakery and went to work for Sears as the Plumbing and Heating Department Manager. In 1978, lured by the promise of free night classes, Delmar left his job at Sears and went to work at Mary College as head mechanic and boiler operator. While employeed at the college, he was able to attend night classes and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in the spring of 1983. In 1988, five years after graduating from college, Delmar left his position at Mary College and went to teach school at Butte, North Dakota. Because of declining, the school was closed. Delmar then took a position at Standing Rock High School at Fort Yates for the 1990-1991 school term. During the late 90s, Delmar returned to live in Elgin and ran a small part-time painting business. A heart attack in both 2002 and 2005 forced him to retire completely. He spent the rest of his days having coffee with dear friends, enjoying his daughters company, writing poetry, and model railroading.


Delmar passed away on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at the Jacobson
Memorial Hospital in Elgin, ND.


He is survived by his two daughters, Allison Roth, Fargo, ND, and Roslyn (Scott) Pigg, Nashville, TN; three brothers, Gerald (Coleen) Roth, Mandan, ND, Norman (Audrey) Roth, Mandan, ND, Larry (Bonnie) Roth, Bismarck, ND; and three sisters, Esther Maas, Renton, WA, Violette (Lawrence ) Ketterling, Livingston, TX, LaRue Roth, Center Point, TX; two sisters-in-law, Helen Roth, Warrensburg, MO, and Helena Roth, Elgin, ND; and numerous nieces and nephews.


He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Ervin, Bernard, Eugene, and Marvin Roth.