Sally Roth

Sally Kathryn Roth—a devoted mother, grandmother, teacher, sister, and friend—passed away on March 9, 2025. She will be remembered for her humor, passion for the arts, and the lasting impact she made on those around her.

A visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 PM on April 4, 2025, followed by a Life Celebration at 4:00 PM at Stemm-Lawson- Peterson Funeral Home,1531 Cobblestone Blvd. Elkhart, IN, 46637.

Born on November 4, 1941, in Danville, IL, Sally was the daughter of Alma Kathryn (Grant) Beresford and Nicholas Anthony Beresford. She grew up with her sister, Deborah (Michael) Wright, and brother, Nicholas Beresford, and graduated from Schlarman High School.

On August 20, 1970, she married Robert L. Roth. She was a cherished mother to Stephanie (Roth) & David Pairitz of Bristol, IN; Nicholas Roth & Joseph Freund of Des Moines, IA; and Robyn (Roth) Hensch of Sarasota, FL. She adored her role as Oma to six grandchildren—Maria Pairitz, Annika Pairitz, Ethan Pairitz, Michelle (Hensch) Young, Amy (Hensch) Tricou, and Tanya Hensch—as well as four great-grandchildren.

Sally’s passion for dance defined much of her life. For over 40 years, she inspired countless students in Elkhart, first as a dance instructor at the YWCA (1961–1990) and later as the owner of "The Studio" in downtown Elkhart. Her love for dance was sparked in childhood while attending Saturday matinees with her mother, mesmerized by the performances of Fred Astaire, Elaine Powell, Donald O’Connor, Gene Kelly, and Peg-Leg Bates. She grew up studying dance with Catherine Cromwell, although her family could not always afford the classes given. Sally trained dancers who went on to perform in professional companies, theme parks, and cruise ships—one even winning an Emmy for Best Tap Dance Documentary. Sally also lent her talents to the Bristol Opera House (Elkhart Civic Theatre), choreographing numerous productions, with "Gypsy" (1976) among her favorites. One of her greatest professional joys was passing on her love of dance to her granddaughters, Maria and Annika.

Beyond dance, Sally was an avid reader, a sharp-witted conversationalist, and a passionate teacher. Her legacy lives on through the thousands of students she inspired, as well as through her children—her daughter, who continues her gift of dance instruction as director of Epic Dance Studios, and her son, a concert pianist and professor of music at Drake University.

Sally was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed.

The family would like to thank Brentwood Assisted Living and Greenleaf Health Campus for their loving care and laughter.

Online condolences may be made at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com