ROSETH, James W. 1917-2000

ROSETH, BRIDELL, HEIMDAHL

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 9/8/2010 at 19:09:11

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, June 6, 2000

James W. Roseth

James W. Roseth, 82, of Ridgecrest, Calif., died Thursday, May 18, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center in Ridgecrest.

James (Jim) was born Sept. 5, 1917, in Mabel, Minn., where his father operated a restaurant and his mother was a schoolteacher.

Jim was the son of James T. and Elsa Roseth.

One of his most memorable times in Mabel was when Charles Lindberg, a barnstorming pilot at the time, gave airplane rides over the town. He told his mother "I almost went to heaven."

In 1926, the family moved to Decorah where his father was a partner in the Superior Baking Company. Around 1930, his father opened the Bake-Rite Bakery.

Jim attended elementary and high school in Decorah, graduating in 1935. He was an avid sports fan and participated in football and track at Decorah High.

On April 30, 1938, Jim married Marjorie Ann Bridell, DHS class of 1937. He worked for a brief period as an accountant in Dubuque.

In 1943, Jim attended the U.S. Army Signal Corps School in Des Moines. Following graduation he was employed by Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids as a transmitter technician.

In November 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in the Philippine Islands and Japan. He was discharged with the rank of sergeant, 16th
Communications Squadron, U.S. Air Force in October 1946.

While Jim was in the service, his parents sold the bakery in 1945 and moved to Fresno, Calif., along with his wife Marjorie and his son, Robert.

Reunited with his family, Jim was employed as service manager for the Sherman Clay Company in Fresno for seven years. He left Sherman Clay in 1951 to work for North American in Fresno.

In May 1955, Jim obtained a position with the Naval Ordnance Test Station (later known as the Naval Weapons Center) in China Lake, Calif. He designed and headed an antenna range facility, and assisted in the development of an anechoic chamber at NWC. The family made their home in Ridgecrest, which is adjacent to the China Lake facility.

Following retirement in February 1982, his interest was mainly in sports. He coached Little League with his brother-in-law, Erling Heimdahl. His son, Robert, after graduating from U.C. Davis, was a teacher and varsity football coach at Burroughs High in Ridgecrest. Jim served as assistant football coach with Robert for 22 years.

Survivors include his wife, Marjorie, his sons, Robert and Carolyn Roseth of Ridgecrest, and the Rev. John and Darlene Roseth of Wausau, Wis., five grandchildren, and five greatgrandchildren.

Also surviving are his sister, Ruth Heimdahl, Ridgecrest, and his brother, Donald and Betty Roseth of Thousand Oaks, Calif.

James was preceded in death by his parents.

He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Ridgecrest. No funeral service was held at his request. His wife Marjorie Roseth resides at 700 West Kinnett, Ridgecrest, Calif., 93555.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.