Norman Henry Adams, 92, of Verndale and Wadena, passed away Saturday, March 7, 2009.
He was born Sept. 13, 1916, in Edmond, Kan., to William "Bill" and Nelly Adams. At the age of one month, he and his mother traveled by train to join the rest of the family at their homestead in Cadoa, Bent County, Colo. He started school in a one-room prairie school and at an early age helped with cattle roundups and branding. In 1925, under the scourge of a severe drought, with little food and being short of money, his family, like the others, pulled up stakes and moved back to Kansas.
He graduated from high school at Monument, Kan., in 1935 and attended electrician's school in Chicago for a year. On Sept. 23, 1936, he married Elfreda Gladys Nielsen from nearby Page City, Kan., a marriage that lasted more than 60 years, until Elfreda's death in 1996. He was a wheat farmer in western Kansas in partnership with his father-in-law, Hans Nielsen, when in 1945 they both moved their families to the Verndale area where each bought a dairy farm. In 1975 he sold his herd and retired from dairying. He then worked for the U of M Opportunity Farming Program. He retired in 1985 after 10 years.
On March 21, 1998, he was married to Virginia Sorgert, whose companionship, care and devotion he often spoke of and for which he was truly thankful.
He was a charter member of the River Trail Riders Saddle club and remained active for more than 58 years. He was also actively involved in Quarterhorse shows for many years. He served on the Wadena County Fair Board for 24 years from 1961 to 1985 and received a plaque in recognition of his long-time service.
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He worked with the Soil and Water Conservation District from 1990-1993 in the Alfalfa Hay Program. He served on the Verndale School Board for more than 16 years and the Aldridge Township Board for 20 years as well as on the Verndale Cemetery Board. He also served on the Draft Board and the Election Board and was an adult leader of the Oakdale 4-H Club. He was a long-time member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Verndale and upon its closing, joined the Verndale Methodist Church.
He and Elfreda were named Wadena County's Outstanding Senior Citizens in 1995, and proudly represented the county in local celebrations and at the Minnesota
State Fair.
He had two great loves in his life -- horses and kids -- and it was difficult to tell which was his greater love. Whether roughhousing with the grandkids and great grandkids on the living room floor, playing street ball with boys in the neighborhood, teaching youngsters to ride a horse or throw a lariat rope or groom a dairy calf for the county fair, he could often be found among the kids.
Funeral services are 11 a.m. at Thursday, March 12, in the United Methodist Church in Verndale with the Rev. Jill Palowski officiating. Honorary pallbearers are the grandchildren. Casket bearers are Bryon Karger, James Westergren, Damen Adams, Rhonda Adams, Robin Dillon, Derrick Deering, Tyler Sorgert and Nathan Sorgert. Internment is in the Verndale cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to the Verndale Methodist Church. Arrangements were with the Johnson Memorial Home in Verndale ( www.johnsonmemorialhome.com ).
Survivors include his wife, Virginia; children, Larry (Jo), Atlanta, Ga., Roberta Karger (Don) Lexington, Ohio; Sandie Cox (Steve) Montrose, Colo., and Richard, Brainerd; Virginia's family, including Virginia Sharr (Ken), Montana; Edward (Kathryn) Cambridge, Minn., Paul (Debbie), Annandale, Minn., David (Rita), Lino Lakes, Minn., John (Brenda), Cambridge, Minn., and Debbie Deering (Dan), Sauk Rapids; 36 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Wayne, Arvada, Colo.; and three sisters, Orpha Price, Thelma Guay and Jean Esley all of Topeka, Kan., and many other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elfreda; a son, Dean; a great-granddaughter; a sister, Leona Loviska; and a brother, Orval Perry.
