Don Adam

Velva

Don E. Adam, 88, of Velva, ND and formerly of Drake, ND, passed away Friday, December 5, 2025 at Trinity Health in Minot, ND. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, December 12, 2025 at the United Community Baptist Church in Anamoose, ND. Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Thursday, December 11, 2025 at the Bethke-Nelson Funeral Home in Drake. Burial will take place at the Drake City Cemetery in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to: Camp Bentley – P.O. Box 102 Drake, ND 58736; Drake City Cemetery Fund – P.O. Box 40 Drake, ND 58736; or to Valley View Manor – 302 Main St. South Velva, ND 58790.

Don was born on April 21, 1937 to Ervin and Myrtle (Helstedt) Adam in Anamoose. He was raised on the family farm south of Drake and attended grade school and 4-H in Rosenfield Township. In 1949, the family moved to Drake where he attended 8th grade and high school, graduating from Drake High in 1954.

He began farming with his father at an early age and moved back to the family farm in 1967. He started raising Registered Polled Hereford cattle in the early 1960’s and Polled Gelbvieh cattle in 1985. He attended the Graham School from Cattlemen in Garnett, Kansas in 1967.

On June 24, 1972, Don married Wilma Stewart of Southam, ND in Devils Lake. They made their home on the farm where they raised their family. Wilma passed away on December 25, 2020. Don remained on the farm until moving to Valley View Manor Assisted Living in October 2023, where he enjoyed meeting new friends and attending the various activities.

Don enjoyed riding horse especially with his daughters, traveling with his wife, spending time with his grandchildren, and playing pinochle with his friends at the Velva & Drake Senior Citizens.

He was a member of the Drake Baptist Church until it merged into the United Community Baptist Church of Anamoose. He was the Rosenfield Township Treasurer from 1988 to 2019, member of the ND & American Polled Hereford Association, ND & American Gelbvieh Association, ND Stockmens Association, a committee member of the Drake Breeders Classic and Drake Alumni Association and was treasurer of the Drake Senior Citizens.

Don is survived by his daughters, Melinda (Brian) Seil of Velva, ND, Donell (Brady) Kjos of Bismarck, ND; grandchildren, James and Evelyn Seil, Ty and Tenley Kjos; sisters, Faye Christianson of Maplewood, MN and Grace (Bill) Wald of West Fargo, ND; 3 nieces and 3 nephews; numerous cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Wilma; his parents, Ervin and Myrtle Adam; sister and brother-in-law, Geraldine (Ronald) Larson; brothers-in-law, Carol Christiansen and Corky Stewart.

Arrangements are with the Bethke-Nelson Funeral Home of Drake, ND. Online condolences may be left at www.nelsonfuneralhomesnd.com.

Published by The Minot Daily News, December 10, 2025.