Enid Jean Wilkins Roth, 93, died Monday, September 9, at United Living Community in Brookings.
A Memorial/Prayer service is scheduled at Brookings First United Methodist Church at 3:00 on Friday, September 13. Funeral services will be Friday, September 20 at 1:00 pm at Sturgis United Methodist Church, with interment at Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche, SD. Visitation will be Thursday, September 19 at Black Hills Funeral Home in Sturgis, SD from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Eidsness Funeral Home is assisting the family with local arrangements.
Enid Jean Wilkins was born on March 25, 1931 at Aberdeen, SD, the daughter of Raymond and Bertha Wilkins. She grew up in the Cresbard community and attended school there and graduated from Cresbard High School in 1949. She received a teaching certificate from Northern State College and taught at a rural school in Edmunds County for two years. She became engaged to Robert J. [Bob] Roth in September 1950, and they married on May 28, 1951. To this union three sons and three daughters were born.
Their first home was located on the Roth farm, where Bob farmed for ten years in cooperation with his father. They were active in the Scatterwood Community-Methodist Church. In August of 1959 they moved to Fulton, SD where Bob was pastor of the Methodist Church while attending Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell. The family moved to Marshall Wisconsin in 1963 and Bob attended Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, graduating in 1967. They moved to Belle Fourche, Britton, Mitchell and Sturgis, SD.
Enid was an artist in several mediums. She wove macramé pieces, painted pictures, and created unique works with a variety of materials. Even more than her love of art and creating was sharing these with others, especially her grandchildren. While in Belle Fourche, she took pottery lessons, eventually forming a business selling functional stoneware pottery. She participated in festivals in Fargo, Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Spearfish, Aberdeen, and at the Fort Sisseton Festival.
Enid was an avid rock-hound, sometimes to the dismay of her husband. Everywhere she went, a rock caught her eye and found its way to her home. She collected many interesting rocks, pieces of wood, and tree roots along the way. These were often featured in the landscaping and interior décor of her homes. She has passed this love of nature on to her children and grandchildren.
Enid was involved in many church activities and especially enjoyed teaching Sunday School. Along with her husband, she provided leadership in Marriage Enrichment workshops for several years. Family dinners were important to her, and she delighted in hosting her children and grandchildren for holiday meals. Spending time in the kitchen with grandchildren brought her joy. Toad-In-A-Hole for breakfast, Rice and Raisins, and homemade ice cream were family favorites. She loved spending time outside tending to her flower gardens. Ice cream and doughnuts would always bring a smile to her face.
In 1996 they retired to a new home in Boulder Canyon, five miles west of Sturgis. Their children and grandchildren often gathered at this retirement residence for family gatherings and celebrations. In 2010, they moved to Spearfish.
Bob passed away in March 2019. Enid later moved to assisted living in Sturgis. In, 2023, needing additional assistance, Enid moved to Edgewood Memory Care in Brookings.
Enid passed away peacefully on the morning of Monday, September 9, 2024, at United Living Community in Brookings, at the age of 93.
She is survived by her children, Thomas of Shawnee, KS; Gerald [Kay] of Moorcroft, WY; Joanne [Rex] Vigoren of Colorado Springs, CO; Ronald Roth of Sturgis, SD; and Cheryl [James] Honomichl of Volga, SD; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; two sisters, Irene [Allen] Roth of Mesa AZ; Betty [Russ] Arendsee of Watertown, SD.
She was preceded in death by her husband, daughter Janice Roth, infant grandson Jacob Honomichl, parents, brothers Howard and Keith Wilkins, and sister Ardell [Ronald] Bierman.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.
