“Grief is the last act of devotion we can give to those we love. Where there is profound grief, there was vast love.”

Shelly Lynn Roth was born in Sidney, MT on April 7, 1963, to parents Lyla Hilliard (Mastvelten) and Bill Hilliard. She was raised in the Savage, MT area with her siblings Wendy (Farrow), Jeff (Hilliard) and the youngest Rod (Hilliard).

The family lived the farm life for most of Shelly’s youth. Lyla would often bring home baby skunks and such critters for the family to raise, and Shelly learned the hard way not to get too attached to the livestock. Her favorite piglet she named Arnie died from a late castration. Shelly always held onto that love of animals, however. She attended Savage High School where the boys were all a little scared of her, she played basketball and made sure no kids messed with her younger brother Jeff.

By the time 8th grade hit, Shelly was ready to take on the world and left school. In the late summer of 1980, Shelly was hanging out in The Triangle parking lot with her older sister Wendy. They saw their friend Mark Lunstead and his brother Mike, and also a new face - Justin Roth. Shelly was quite impressed with the tall, handsome, but quiet guy. Justin was blown away by this pretty and seemingly shy girl. He got her number, and the next night called her to see if she would go on a cruise with him. He picked her up in a pretty sundress in his General Lee look-a-like red two door 1972 Dodge Charger.

Justin was very nervous, but he took her out to the “main drag” while listening to music. Shelly must have been swept off her feet because they were married in Savage within a year. Justin proposed outside her family home, and they married on November 22, 1980. Dustin James Roth was born soon after and a year later Lacy Lynn Roth (Churchill) followed. The couple lived on the “Roth Plantation” as she like to call it, and after 3 years Roxann Rene Roth was born.

The complete family spent the next fifteen years living in Sidney. Shelly was a stay-at-home mom but also a caregiver for the elderly at times.

Shane Roth, however, changed their lives when he got his older brother Justin a welder and fabricator job working with him in Glendive building cement silos for grain.

Justin and Shelly spent some of the best years of their lives travelling across the country. Justin building silos and Shelly getting to see places she only dreamed of. From South Carolina to Washington State, North Dakota to Mexico. Their daughter joined them with their first grandson Chelden Lee Roth when he was only a week old. Shelly was the happiest she had been in the years away from Sidney.

Around 2006 the couple’s kids talked them into returning home to Sidney. They would spend the next nine years living in the newly purchased Roth Plantation, recently vacated by Justin’s parents who had “moved to town.”

In 2015, Shelly had her first struggle with cancer and after a double mastectomy and chemo treatments, was free and clear for the next ten years. Last year however, in 2024, cancer returned -this time in her colon and it would prove to be a bigger battle than Shelly’s body could handle.

In late August 2025, her body finally succumbed. As was Shelly’s way, she waited five more days to meet the Lord. Her family was with her 24/7 and during the shift change she peacefully slipped away and out of pain and suffering. Knowing that she didn’t want to be watched passing, she pulled a fast one on everybody and went on her own terms. She timed it perfectly to not hurt any one of her family who had been with her all week. A mother’s final kindness.

Shelly Lynn Roth was a loving mother and grandmother. Through all the hardships and triumphs, her children were always devoted to her, even if she was being hardheaded. Her loving husband was there to the end caring for her.

Shelly was known for her generosity and huge heart and love of animals. She loved astrology and TV shows like “Beard Meets Food” and many outdoor/ camping and survival shows. Her cat Brooklynn was the love none of us expected since cats weren’t allowed inside in the early years.

Her children remember morning kisses and bedside care while they were sick. Little love notes hidden everywhere: inside lunch boxes or next to lilacs picked for a little girl sick in bed. Playing spying eye or pretending to drive into the river. A bear in the woods to scare kids home. A firm head or help with math. Her children grew up knowing they were loved. She is a beloved mother, wife daughter, sister and friend. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She is now pain free and waiting for us with her mother Lyla Faye Hilliard (Mastvelten), grandmother Olive (Forry) and grandfather Carl Mastvelten, nephews Russel Anderson and Cody Herbst, grandniece Lily Herbst, and Goldy and Russ Mastvelten.

She is survived by her husband Justin Roth; children Dustin Roth, Lacy Churchill, and Roxann Roth; and grandchildren Chelden Roth, Kaylynn Gonsalves, Hunter Roth, Easton Knudson, QuinLee Knudson and TimberLynn Roth.