William Joseph Roth

Blue Hill resident William Joseph “Bill” Roth, 92, passed away Thursday, October 9, 2025, at his home.

Rosary will be at 10:30 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 16, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Hastings with Father Craig Clinch officiating. Burial with military honors by Hastings Military Honor Guard will be at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. Visitation will be 1-7 p.m. with the family present 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, October 15, at the funeral home, and one hour before the service at the church. Memorials may be given to St. Cecilia Catholic Church or to the William and Rita Roth Trust. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Bill’s obituary and click the play button shown toward the bottom of the page. 

Bill was born May 19, 1933, to John A. and Hazel B. (Kealy) Roth at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings, NE. He was the third child of five children (two boys, three girls). He graduated from St. Cecilia High School in 1951, attended Hastings College for a short while after returning from two years of service in the U.S. Army (1953 to 1955). His tour of duty was in Berlin, Germany as a Military Policeman. Bill married Rita Lucero in 1955 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Salt Lake City, UT and remained in that union for 69 years; she preceded him in death on May 1, 2025. He made his home in Hastings where he was in the Optical business until his retirement in 2004 when he and Rita moved to a farm in Adams County south of Hastings. He was blessed with seven sons and one daughter. Other blessings include 25 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Bill was a lifetime member of St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church where he served on the St. Cecilia’s School Board. He was an honorary member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the American Legion, a Charter member of the Nebraska Society of Dispensing Opticians and served on their Board of Directors. He enjoyed hunting with his family and friends and collecting old cars, motorcycles, antique stoves and guns.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Donald J. Roth; two sisters, Anne Marie Roth and Jean Gauthier; grandson, Joshua Roth; and one step-grandson, Alex Pias.

SURVIVORS:
Children:
    Stephen J. Roth – Richland, WA 
    David A. (Kim Mace) Roth – Hastings, NE 
    Kenneth M. Roth – Loveland, CO 
    Donna M. (Steve) Smith – Kearney, NE 
    John M. (Bernadette Avis) Roth – Burleson, TX 
    James A. Roth – Elkton, MD 
    Michael T. (Kristi Yocum) Roth – Lincoln, NE 
    Brian P. Roth – Colorado Springs, CO 
Grandchildren:
    25 
Great-Grandchildren:
    21 
Nieces & Nephews:
    32
Sister & Spouse:
    Grace & Mike Sundermeier
Brother-in-law & Spouse:
    RC & June Lucero
Sisters-in-laws:
    L. Wilkins
    C. Hackathorne