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Goodridge -Norman Adams, 74, of Goodridge lost his battle with lung cancer on January 22, 2017 at Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, MN with his family at his side.
    Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Goodridge with Father Rick Lambert presiding.  Burial will follow at the Bohemian Cemetery, Star Township, Pennington County. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service led by Father Adam Hamness, on Friday, January 27, 2017 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held from 9:30 -10:30 a.m. on Saturday at St. Ann’s Catholic Church.
    Norman Elroy Adams was born in Reynolds, ND on August 7, 1942, the oldest child of James Arthur and Margaret (Elaine) (Bronken) Adams. He grew up in that area, working on the family farm, and he graduated from Reynolds Public School in 1960.
    After school, he moved to East Grand Forks and worked for Minnesota Dairy and McKinnon Distributing.  He met Marie Kotrba there, and they were married October 16, 1965. Daughter Jodi was born in 1968. In 1972, they bought Marie’s aunt Tillie Eliason’s farm in Goodridge, and moved there in April.  Daughter Jami was born in August the same year.  Son Darin was born in 1974. Norm lived at the farm until his death.  
    Norm was known for his joking personality, his love of western novels and movies, and his passion for farming.  He broke ground for fields on his entire farm, and he always focused on being a good steward of the land.  He loved old-time farm equipment, but especially John Deere tractors. Over many years he amassed a collection of 23 working tractors.  He frequently attended the Steam Thresher’s Reunion in Rollag, and was a collector of all things John Deere.  Ironically, his favorite color was red, which is shown on all outbuildings on the farm, often as a red diamond on a white background, or vice versa.
    For decades, to supplement his farm income, he worked as a seasonal truck driver for grain and sugar beets or spraying, with employers to include Horachek Brothers Trucking, RTD Spraying, and Hammerlin Farms. He worked at Arctic Cat, Cenex Fertilizer Plant and Kelly DeWulf Farms. He also owned his own semi-tractor/trailer rig, trucking small grains and sunflowers through the winter months.  He had a soft spot for horses, cats and dogs, and “fussed” with them often. He was a long time member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Goodridge and had served on the Star Township Board.
    Norman is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Marie; children Jodi (husband Jim Bolen), Jami (husband Dave Krick); grandson Samuel (Jami), and his son Darin (significant other Rose Przybylski).  He is also survived by his siblings Margaret (husband Eugene Beitz; children Daniel, Kathleen, Thomas, James, Kristy, Dennis, Kari and their families), Lyle (wife Linda; children Renae, Steven and Dawn and their families), Karen (husband Steve Schumacher, son David), and William “Bill”(wife Holly, daughter Kayla, and son Trace).  
    He is preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.  
    Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com