Irving L. 'Irv' Roth, 79

Irving L. "Irv" Roth, 79, passed away on Friday, Aug. 12, 2005, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Irv was born on July 28, 1926, in Warren, Ore., to Severin and Olga (Mattson) Roth. He was raised in Oregon, where he attended Scappose High School in Scappose. Irv enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 and served with the Sea Bees until honorably discharged in 1946.

He married Vera Adams in 1950 in Port Angeles, Wash. He was a self-employed owner of Adams Sales Inc. in Green River, Wyo., from 1952 until 2005. He was co-owner of Greg's Homes in Kalispell in the late 1970s and early '80s.

He was a very active member of the Chamber of Commerce in Green River, an active member of the Sweetwater County Democrats, state representative from Sweetwater County, Wyo., from 1973 to 1978, past member of the United Church of Christ in Green River, and present member of the Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork. He was also a member of the Masons, Shriners, Elks Lodge, American Legion and the VFW. He loved gardening, current events and traveling.

He was preceded in death by a son, Larry Roth, brother,, Arthur Roth, and his wife, Bertha, and his parents, Severin and Olga Roth.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Vera Roth of Bigfork, a daughter Shelley Hilling and her husband George of Bigfork, brothers and sisters, Oscar Roth and his wife, Edith, June and Bob Simpson, Esther Lufkin, all of Warren, Ore., sister Dorothy and husband George Perry of Portland, sister-in-law Donna Collins and friend Gary Herndon of Welton, Ariz., and Carly the Cat. Grandchildren Joshua Hilling, Dillon Hilling, Sam Hilling, all of Bigfork, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial services will be held at the Union Congregational Church UCC in Green River, Wyo., on Aug. 27. The family requests memorials be sent to the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Lung Association, Shriners Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, N and E Heifer Project or the Bigfork Summer Play House.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.