In the early hours of Friday, Aug. 17, 2012, two days after his 72nd birthday, surrounded by his family, James "Rodney" Adams passed away at St. Luke's Hospital in Crosby after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
Funeral services were at 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012, at Ambrose Lutheran Church, with Pastor Ron Dahle officiating. Burial followed at Zion Cemetery in Colgan.
Rodney was born Aug. 15, 1940, in Ambrose, to John Quincy and Hazel (Haagenson) Adams. Rodney was the third of six children. Rodney attended his first eight years of school in a one-room country school near Colgan and later attended and graduated from Crosby High School. Rodney spent most of his life doing what he loved, farming and ranching near Fortuna.
Rodney married Gail Cartwright on June 15, 1963, in Williston. They were excited and grateful to have their two children, Shawn James and Melissa Gail. In 1973, Rodney and Gail welcomed Rodney's two nephews, Cary and Roger, and niece, Veeann Hegreberg, into their family.
In addition to farming, Rodney and Gail spent many years feeding people with Cracker Barrel Concessions at paddle fishing, the Divide County Fair, and the Threshing Bee where they had fun meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends. They also enjoyed working together with their Adams Auction Service. People say that if you love what you do you'll never work a day in your life; not only did Rodney love what he did, he did it with the one he loved.
Rodney was an active member of the community, having served with the Fortuna Fire District, and as a member of Northwest Parish Board, Ambrose Church Council, Upper Missouri Ministries Board, Divide County Farm Bureau, and the Divide County Fair Board. As an active supporter of the UMM Bible Camp, Rodney, along with Dan Lindsey, volunteered their auctioneering services for the UMM Annual Quilt Auction.
Rodney loved spending time with his grandchildren, Paden, Lyndi, and Vanessa. He generously shared his time and love with all of those around him. He is cherished by his family and friends for his kind heart, gentle spirit, contagious sense of humor, and sincere humility.
Rodney is survived by: Gail, his loving wife of 49 years; son, Shawn (Cyndi) Adams, Fortuna; daughter, Melissa Adams (Larry Hoff), Fortuna; nephew, Cary (Shirley) Hegreberg, Townsend, Mont.; niece, Veeann Hegreberg (Marcus Fitzhugh), Santa Clarita, Calif.; nephew, Roger Hegreberg, Hayden, Idaho; grandchildren, Vanessa Adams, Minot; Paden and Lyndi Hoff, Fortuna; great-niece, Kari (Marty) Jansen, and their children Alison and Bryce, Layton, Utah; great-nephew, Adam Hegreberg, and his children, Kaillee and Konner, Helena, Mont.; great-niece, Kristin Hegreberg, and her children, Kyah, Rylan and Tyree, Helena, Mont.; great-niece, Karcy Hegreberg, Santa Clarita, Calif.; great-nephew, Justin (Rebecca) Hegreberg, and their son, Niko, Portland, Ore.; great-niece, Aubrey Hegreberg, and her children, Brody and Bailey, of Hayden, Idaho; brother, John Larry (Joanne) Adams, Fortuna; sister, Marie Hagberg, Gahanna, Ohio; brother, Daniel Westley Adams, Thief River Falls, Minn.; niece, Julie Jaster, and her children, Tabitha and Keefe, Ambrose; nephew, Jay (Dawn) Adams, and their son, Mathew, Fortuna; niece, Tiffiny Cato, and her children, Ty and Tori, Dublin, Ohio; niece, Tami Hagberg, and her son, Skye, Dublin, Ohio; nephew, Michael (Lila) Hagberg, and their children, Sawyer, Eli and Glory, Eastvale, Calif.; niece, Camille (Justin) Hayes, and their children, Dakota, Haven and Preston, Billings, Mont.; niece, Dawn (Jay) Rich, Bakersfield, Calif.; nephew, Todd Adams, Seattle, Wash.; nephew, James Adams, and his daughter, Rebecca, Williston; and niece, Mona Knutson, and her children, Matthew, Steven and Aundroya, Williston.
Stakston-Martin Funeral Home of Crosby