Carla Ann (Just) Roth, 74

Carla Ann (Just) Roth, 74, of Columbia Falls, died at her home on May 13, 2021.

Carla was born to Sidney and Edith (Tatman) Just on Nov. 2, 1946, in Mankato, Minnesota. She was the youngest of three children. Carla graduated from Mankato High School in 1964 and Mankato State College in 1968 and pursued a career in teaching special education. She loved being a teacher, but soon found that she loved being a wife and mother even more.

Carla married James Donald Roth on Oct. 20, 1973. They had four children, 10 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She was a devoted mother and grandmother and filled the lives of each of them with her own special blend of love and encouragement. Ever an ardent supporter of her family, she didn’t miss an opportunity to attend a game, concert or milestone event. She had an incredible gift for making holidays magical and would cook and bake enough to feed an army every time. She never thought she had enough lights on her Christmas tree.

One of the bravest women we knew, Carla loved camping, traveling and riding roller-coasters with her grandchildren. After beating breast cancer in the early 2000s, she went skydiving at Lost Prairie, Montana, near her beloved lake house. She was incredibly proud of that feat and would show the video to anyone willing to watch it. She loved her motorhome and traveled often with her children and then her grandchildren. She never turned down an adventure.

Carla was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Gayle (Just) Schulte and Katie (Just) Lindholm, and her nephew Brian Lindholm. We imagine her arrival back into their arms was a joyous event.

She is survived by her husband, Jim; children Jeff, Lisa, Nikki and Mike; grandchildren, Jennifer, Brianna, Brandon, Nicholas, Natalie, Cosette, Laishia, Zakerey and Isaiah; great grandchildren, Dante, Ziggy Joe and Rhett; and multiple nieces and nephews. We love and miss her more than words can express.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated today, May 18, at 11 a.m. at St. Richard Catholic Church in Columbia Falls. A viewing was held on Monday, May 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Columbia Mortuary.

Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for the family.