Lowell Leon Roth

Lowell Leon Roth, 81, passed away on September 14, 2025 at his home in Hesston, Kansas. He was born on March 26, 1944 in Iowa City, Iowa. He was the fourth of eight children born to Vernon E. Roth and Lois Kauffman Roth. The family lived in Parnell, IA until they moved to Washington, IA where Vernon started a dairy operation They moved to Hesston, KS for one year when Lowell was in the third grade for Vernon to take Bible classes at Hesston College. The family spent one year in Kansas before returning to Iowa.
Lowell was baptized at the age of 12 at Bethel Mennonite Church near Wayland, IA where his father was the pastor. Eventually Vernon planted a church, the Eureka Mennonite Church, Washington, IA, near their family farm in Iowa where Lowell attended for much of his teenage life.
Apart from the one year in Hesston, Lowell attended elementary school in a one room school house near their home and junior high school in the Washington, Iowa system. He went to Iowa Mennonite School for his freshman and sophomore high school years. He then came to Hesston Academy, as was the tradition for members of his mother's family, for his junior and senior years, graduating in 1962.
Lowell attended and graduated from Hesston College where he excelled at basketball. He then walked on and made the team at the University of Iowa his junior year, but missed the entire season due to an ankle injury. He then returned to Kansas to play basketball at Bethel College where he graduated with a degree in physical education in 1969.
Lowell met Cindi Brubacher, then of Hesston, Kansas, in the summer of 1968. They were married on March 2, 1969. Lowell taught and coached at East High and Wilbur Junior High in Wichita for several years.
Lowell had worked part time for King Construction during summers and learned that he had a knack for the details of construction. Eventually this led to him establishing his own business, Hesston Excavating. This was his life's work until he retired in 2015.
Son Jeff was born into the family in January of 1971 and daughter Michelle was born in 1973.
He is survived by his wife, Cindi Roth of Hesston; children, Jeff (Gwen) Roth of Hesston, and Michelle Roth of Andover; six grandchildren, Jordan Roth of Bel Aire, Katie (Grant) Raleigh of Hesston, Abraham Pankratz of Minneapolis, MN, Leo Pankratz, Hugh Pankratz and Otto Pankratz, all of Andover; and sisters, Becky Roth of Hesston and Marcia Huxman of Moundridge.
Lowell was preceded in death by his parents Vernon and Lois Roth, three brothers, Jim, Stan, and Phil, two sisters, Brenda and Joanne, and grandson Joshua.
A memorial service will be on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church. A meal and visitation will follow. Memorials may be sent to New Hope Shelter in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.
Cemetery
Eastlawn Cemetery
5920 N West Rd
Newton KS 67114
US
Memorial Service
Saturday, October 11, 2025
5:00 PM -
Hesston Mennonite Church
309 S Main Street
Hesston KS 67062
US
Funeral Home
Miller-Ott Funeral Home - Hesston
P.O. Box 32
107 South Lancaster
Hesston KS - 67062
US
620-327-2685