Ann E Roth

Ann Roth passed away peacefully on May 19th in her sleep. She was born on March 6, 1929 at a farm near New Leipzig, North Dakota. Her parents, Christian and Katherine Stern, both immigrants (called “Germans from Russia”) established the family farm near New Leipzig. As her birth was just 7 months prior to the beginning of the Great Depression, the family all worked together farming to make a living. Her birth father had already lost his first wife with whom he had 3 children and then married her mother with whom together they had 9 more children including Ann.

Ann married Oscar Roth June 6, 1948 and together they celebrated 61 years of marriage before his passing in 2009. As the Stern family spoke German as their primary language, Oscar and Ann were married at the German Trinity Lutheran Church near New Leipzig. The couple moved from North Dakota to Salem, Oregon in 1960 seeking bigger opportunities and to raise their daughter Tamara.

Ann’s career always centered around Health Care. In 1957, she was the assisting nurse that helped Dr Hankins (Mott) and Dr Buckingham (Elgin) deliver the Meier quads at the Lorenzen Hospital in Elgin, North Dakota. This was a large source of pride in her career. After moving to Salem, Ann worked at the Salem Hospital and also for a local Salem cardiologist that was so impressed with her nursing aptitude that he offered to send her to nursing school to become an RN. Sadly, timing wasn’t good to make this dream come true but this didn’t dampen her piqued interest in learning as much as she could in the medical field.

Upon receiving her own PC in 1992, Ann took many computer user lessons at the community college so she could create her own Christmas letters, send emails and use her favorite the “copy and paste” function.

Ann and Oscar traveled often back to their family roots in North Dakota, but also to Washington DC, Hawaii many times, and Caribbean Islands. They attended Christ Lutheran Church, aka Christ the Good Shepard, throughout their residency in Salem.

Retirement brought years of crafting, sewing, baking, gardening, quilting and specialty cooking. It was a life fully lived. Their home was always spotless and their flower garden beautifully manicured. Their door was always open to family and friends for a visit that would always include a meal and a cup of coffee. With such large families on both sides, every birthday or anniversary were reasons for a party.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents, husband and all 11 siblings. She is survived by her daughter Tamara (Hank) and grandson Talon. Burial will be at Willamette National Cemetery following a private service . The family is grateful for the many birthday cards, flowers and visits during her last few years in assisted living and memory care. Mom so appreciated it!