Joe Elbert Roten was born July 21, 1928, and entered eternal life on October 10, 2025, at the age of 97.
Joe was born in Clarksville, Red River County, Texas and left Texas for a better life in 1944, at the age of 16.
Joe was married to Mary Bell Randolph on August 30, 1944, and to that union three children were born: Paul, Tanna (Janice), and Julianna (Mary Jo).
Joe was married to Nona Woodhams on August 31, 1962, and to that union two children were born: Troy and Nolene.
Joe was employed by the railroad most of his life beginning in October 1944. He held various positions and moved many times with his family until settling in Alliance, Nebraska in August 1949. Prior to arriving in Alliance, he worked in Bridgeport, Sidney, Holyoke (CO), Dalton, Guernsey (WY), Grover (CO), and western Kansas. He left Alliance briefly in 1958 and returned in 1961. He retired as an assistant chief-dispatcher for BNSF in June 1993. His total time with the railroad was 48 years and 2 months.
Part of his railroad training included telegraphy. During WWII, Joe worked in the Bridgeport Western Union office and witnessed the most memorable message in his career. The woman working with him transcribed information that her own son had been killed in the war. Joe retold this story many times over the years. It obviously affected him deeply.
Joe was very active in the First Baptist Church in Alliance starting in 1961, where he served on many boards, taught Sunday School, and helped in the maintenance of the church building and landscaping.
In addition to the First Baptist Church Joe was active over the years in American Baptist Men, Northwestern Association of American Baptist Churches of Nebraska, The Gideon’s International, Meals on Wheels, Panhandle Forum, and Housing Authority of the City of Alliance. He also helped untold numbers of neighbors and friends by assisting them with yard work, taking them to doctors appointments, and being their support when they needed it.
Upon retirement in 1993, Joe continued his service to his community and enjoyed walks, tennis, working in his yard, reading, serving his church, spending time with his family, and watching sports, especially anything Nebraska Cornhuskers related.
In 1996, the Northwestern Association of American Baptist Churches of Nebraska awarded Joe the “Layman of the Year” for Alliance.
In 1997, the Kiwanis Club of Alliance honored Joe as an important “Layman of the Church” for the First Baptist Church.
In 2001, Joe was awarded “Layman of the Year” by the American Baptist Men of Nebraska. “In recognition of his dedicated service to God, Church and fellow man.”
In 2017, Joe and Nona relocated to Colorado Springs, CO to be near their children and grandchildren. Troy and Nolene are especially grateful to be able to spend more time with Joe and Nona in the sunset of their lives.
Nona preceded Joe in death on January 14, 2018. He was also preceded in death by his son Paul, his parents, three siblings who died in infancy and his remaining twelve siblings. He is survived by his children Tanna, Julianna, Troy and Nolene, as well as many grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family.
We believe Joe left this world a better place for having been in it for over 97 years. His legacy will be his extensive service to his community, his love of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, his endless ability to tell jokes and stories, his great laugh and smile, his love for his family, and most of all his unwavering faith. He was a friend to all, and he will be missed by so many.
We want to thank the wonderful staff at Liberty Heights and the Choice Hospice caregivers. The kind and caring people at both facilities provided daily friendship and excellent care for Joe. We are eternally grateful.
A service for Joe will be held at 1pm on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the Bates-Gould Funeral Home at 1020 W. 10th Street, Alliance. As a wonderful send-off and in honor of Joe, please feel free to wear your favorite Nebraska Cornhusker attire. A graveside service for the family will be held separately at the Alliance Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Joe’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/ or to The Gideon’s International https://gideons.org/donate
Bates-Gould Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.