Dorothy Roth, 88, of Troy
Dorothy “Dodo” Ninneman Roth passed away quietly at her son’s home on March 28, 2012, after a battle with cancer.
Born in Lewiston, Idaho, on Nov. 23, 1923, to Jack and Floy Ninneman, Dorothy was the oldest of three children. The family grew with the additions of Jack, Jr., (deceased), and Olive “Oddie” Marie.
As a surveyor, Jack took his family on many adventures throughout the country. During a stint in Washington, D.C., Jack took his children on a Goodyear Blimp ride over the Washington, D.C., area an adventure that would be spoken of for years to come. They also met King George and Queen Mary of England during their visit to the United States.
The family later moved to Alexandria, Va., where Dorothy graduated from George Washington High School. She later attended Grand Junction (Colo.) Junior College, where she met and married the love of her life, Leonard Roth, Sr. in 1943.
After graduating, Dorothy and Len traveled the country until Len joined the Air Transport Command as a radio operator. A few months after his departure, Dorothy gave birth to their first son, Leonard Roth, Jr.
When Leonard Sr. heard the news of his son’s arrival he rushed home to the hospital and asked what his wife had named the baby. He was dismayed that he had a junior. When asked how the delivery had gone, Dorothy replied, “Not bad, they slipped me a Micky.”
From that day forward, their first son was know as Micky to everyone.
Three months after their son’s birth, Len and Dorothy moved to Troy, Mont., where they helped run the family’s Trout Farm at Tillicum Ranch. Dorothy’s sense of humor delighted everyone around her and she was soon known for her humor and writing talents. Dorothy joined the Takima Club in Troy and fit in nicely.
In 1953, Dorothy gave birth to her second son, Robert, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
She always said that she willed herself to have boys because she could never handle a daughter. This fact was not lost on the family as she joyfully acted as chaperone to the Troy High School cheerleaders when the teams played out of town.
In the early 1960s, Dorothy began writing for The Western News and soon expanded her writing skills to include the Missoulian, and Spokesman Review. She was also a stringer for the Associated Press and many of her articles were circulated worldwide.
Many of her articles can be found in scrapbooks which the family is donating to the Troy Museum. Her articles were filled with local news (including the building of the Libby Dam) humorous essays, and photographs.
Dorothy also enjoyed crocheting. Family and friends always enjoyed her homemade gifts ranging from potholders to blankets, each stitch lovingly cast.
In addition to her needlework, Dorothy also was a substitute teacher for the English class at Troy High School. Her vocabulary was pristine and she would often stump her students with words that meant a trip to the dictionary to find out the meaning.
On Sept. 7, 1989, Dorothy’s beloved husband, Leonard Sr., passed away.
Her sister, Oddie moved in with Dorothy shortly thereafter, and they continued to live together for the next 21 years.
Known as the “the Girls” around Troy, they were the delight of the town, always joking with others. They both joined the Red Hat Society and were inseparable, attending many events and adventures together until Dorothy fell ill.
Dorothy is preceded in death by her father, Jack Ninneman Sr. her mother, Floy Ninneman, her younger brother, Jack Ninneman Jr., and her husband, Leonard F. Roth Sr.
Survivors include her sister, Olive Jones of St. Augustine, Fla.; sons Micky and wife Rainy Roth of Troy, Mont., and Rob and wife Jill Roth of Streetman, Texas, grandchildren, James and wife Theresa Grayson of Las Vegas, Nev.; Brian and fiance’ Rachael Grayson of Spring Creek, Nev.; Josh DeLeon of Streetman, Texas, and Margie DeLeon of Austin, Texas. She is also survived by two great-grandsons, Ethan Grayson, 4, and Desmond Grayson, 1.
Services were held on Saturday, March 31, 2012, at the Door of Hope Church in Troy. After the church service, there was a graveside service and interment at Troy Cemetery.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Lincoln County Relay For Life (C/O Rainy Roth, P.O. Box 841, Troy, Mont., 59935) or by purchasing a Luminary in Dorothy Roth’s name at www.lincolncountyrelay.com.