Sylvia Noretta (Gunderson) Roth was born December 12, 1940, the fifth child and fourth daughter of 14 children of Edward and Mabel (Winterberg) Gunderson. She grew up in Timber Lake, SD. During her senior year, she was honored to be crowned Homecoming Queen before graduating from Timber Lake High School in 1958.

    She left home at the age of 18 and began life’s greatest adventure - becoming a mom. She was always a bit boy crazy, so it was only fitting that she had three sons: Tony, Marty and Michael, and later, she also helped raise her grandson, Brennen.

    The only thing she loved more than her three boys were her grandchildren. Rarely did a weekend go by that she didn’t have at least a couple grandkids staying with her. She enjoyed the traditions of holidays like Christmas and Halloween; collecting angels, rocks and porcelain dolls. “Little House on the Prairie” was her favorite TV show to watch with her sons - or anyone who would join her! She was one of the famous original Gunderson family Mermaids, creator of razzle-dazzle dresses and the “cleaning queen”! She had the ability to turn anything into something magical.

    Sylvia was fiercely loyal and protective of those she loved and she lived her life helping others. There wasn’t a person she met that she didn’t help out in some way or other. That carried over into her career at Upper Des Moines and later, through the non-profit S.O.S. organization she created, helping numerous families get through some rough times as she herself had experienced many times before. When she was five years old, her dad said, “Someday Sylvia, you’re going to do something good.” She carried those words in her heart and believed she had made them come true. 

    On Sunday, October 5, 2025, she passed from this life at the age of 84 years (even though she swore she was only 29!), with her son, Michael at her side. She wanted all of us to remember this - “Don’t be sad when I die, be happy that I’m not in pain anymore.”

    She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Mabel; one son, Tony; daughter-in-law, Shellee; two brothers: Eddie and Rocky; two sisters: Doris and Bea; and her sister-in-law and friend, Cookie.

    Those left to carry on her love are her sons: Marty (Roxann) Roth and Micheal Roth (Tiffany Leth); brothers: Bill, Mac (Gloria), Jim, Layne (Karla), Tim, and Terry Gunderson; sisters: Gloria Guffey, Carol (Marvin) Sasse, and Jayne (Clyde) Pfeifle; eight grandchildren: Nicole, Lashea, Amber, Casy, Anthony, Brooke, Brittany and Brennen; 21 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; her best friends: Lou and Julie; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.