Funeral services for Deloris Roth, age 83, of Elgin, ND, and Bismarck, ND, will be held at 11:00 a.m. CT on Monday, August 1, 2016 at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Bismarck, ND. Pastor Jonathan Walla and Pastor Irvin Bruenjes will officiate with burial in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Elgin, ND.

Deloris Irene Schulz was born on May 26, 1933 in the farm house made of stone, mud and straw mortar built by her grandfather, Christian Schulz, located on his homestead 6 ½ miles north of Elgin, ND. Her parents were Fred W. and Bertha C. (Sick) Schulz who purchased and lived on that homestead.

She was baptized on September 3, 1933 and confirmed on June 22, 1947 at the Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elgin. Deloris began her education in a one room rural school house 1.5 miles from the family farm. She then attended three years of high school at Northwestern Lutheran Academy in Mobridge, SD, prior to graduating from Elgin High School in 1951. That summer Deloris attended Dickinson State Teacher's College where she earned a permit to teach for one year in the elementary grades. Deloris attended the University of Mary where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1973.

During her years in education, Deloris was a rural one room teacher, a classroom teacher, Chapter 1 teacher, librarian and principal. She also served as the Grant County Superintendent of Schools from 1985 to 1989.  Over the years, Deloris worked as a secretary for the 1973 and 1999 North Dakota legislative sessions, Deputy Burleigh County Superintendent of Schools, North Dakota Dept. of Public Instruction in Information and Research Division, and seven years in the summer months for the North Dakota State Archives and Research Library in the Heritage Center at the Capitol Grounds in Bismarck.

On August 18, 1957, Deloris married Eugene E. Roth and together they had two daughters, Nadine Renee and Faye Sabrina. Deloris was the bookkeeper for her husband, Eugene's business, Gene's Hair Fashions, for 17 years. She married Fred. M Hochhalter of Elgin, on February 14, 2004.


Deloris was very fond of music! She was blessed with a beautiful singing voice and had an "ear" for harmonizing. She mastered the piano with the ability to chord and play on cue many songs by heart. Deloris sang in choirs in high school, colleges, and in her church. Many will remember her singing with the Sweet Adeline chorus, duets with other singers at variety shows and functions in Bismarck and Elgin. We are blessed to have her recordings of the many gospel, country and old time songs. Her heritage and family history was very important to her.

She enjoyed doing the research and documenting information for her family. She deeply loved and had great pride for her family, including her godchild, Jill Roth, and their many activities. She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Elgin, ND, and the Bethel Lutheran Church in Bismarck, ND.

Deloris passed away on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at the Sheyenne Care Center in Valley City, ND.

Deloris will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by her family and friends. She is survived by her daughters, Nadine Roth, Fargo, ND and Faye (Mark) Pederson, Carrington, ND; her only grandchild, Carmen Pederson, Carrington, ND; one sister, Janice (Leon) Nesja; and one brother, Marlo (Gail) Schulz.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred W. and Bertha C. Schulz; and two brothers in infancy, Gerald and Wayne Schulz.


Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. MT on Sunday, July 31, 2016 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin, ND, and one hour prior to services at the church on Monday morning.