Juanita M. Roth, 78, Sturgis, died Wednesday, February 6, 2013, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Juanita was born June 21, 1934, in Rapid City, SD, to Lyle and Zerita (Hetrick) Cafferty. She grew up in Rapid City and graduated from Rapid City High School in 1952.

She married Jim Roth on August 22, 1953. They lived in Fort Collins, CO, while Jim attended college. They then returned to the Black Hills and built their home in Sturgis.

Juanita worked as the office manager of the Sturgis Livestock Exchange, which she and Jim operated for many years. She worked at First Western Bank in Sturgis from the early 1980s until retirement in 2008. She retired from the bank as an agricultural loan officer, a position rarely held by women. In retirement, she enjoyed crafts, playing cards, and feeding birds behind their ranch house north of Sturgis. She was a talented seamstress, and she was very creative and artistic.

Juanita will be remembered for her intractable strength and determination. This petite woman had an incomparable work ethic. Whether she was putting in twelve-hour days at the bank or fixing things like tractors and water lines, Juanita was happiest when she was busy and working. There was little she was unable to do or figure out. Her strength was constant but quiet; she knew that one does not have to speak the loudest in order to be heard the most.

In contrast to her strength, Juanita was also the ultimate lady, always gracious and kind, which she constantly reaffirmed in her daily life through small acts of helping others: bringing banana bread to a recently-widowed friend, sewing curtains or costumes for family members, or spending the afternoon with a co-worker's ill husband. She had only good things to say about others, and she resisted attention and being in the spotlight.

Juanita is survived by her husband, Jim Roth, Sturgis; son, Randy Roth (Cheryl), Sturgis; daughter, Susie Roth, Rapid City; sister, Kaye Allison (Norman), Rapid City; and 4 grandchildren, Seth Hahn (Ann), Highland Park, NJ, Nathan Roth, Bismarck, ND, Ashley Burkhead, Rapid City, and Diana Dewey (Ben), Wilder, VT.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Dennis Cafferty; and her sister, Tike Owens.

Visitation will be Sunday, 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. with the family available from 2:00-4:00 at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 11, 2013, at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis with Pastor Denzel Nonhof and Pastor Harold Delbridge officiating. Burial will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.

A memorial has been established to the Meade County Senior Center.

"Small but mighty" describes Juanita well. Her legacy of the power of resolve and grit combined with kindness and compassion will live on in each of us whom she loved and inspired.

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