Bruce was born July 4, 1929, at the family homestead, near Gandy, Logan County, Nebraska, to William C. and Celeste B. Adams. He joined brother Samuel and Kyle and sister Thelma. Sister Doris (Mickey) came along a few years later. Dry land farming the Nebraska sand hills was not the best at the time he was born. In 1934 the family moved to Sutherland, Nebraska, to carry the U.S. Mail, farm, and thresh small grain. The farming operation later grew into a fairly large enterprise. In his lifetime he saw the end of horse and mule farming and the evolution of the mechanization of today. He loved to watch the modern farmers work the fields in Garfield County where he spent his last years. The area was very similar to the area he grew up, only with a lot more hills. He was a farm boy at heart.

     Bruce enlisted in the U.S. Army in September, 1948. He received his basic training and advanced training at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he met George Lillihei. George brought him home to spend the weekend with his family and that is how he met the love of his life, Elsie. Bruce and Elsie were married on January 28, 1950. The Pacific Northwest became his home.

After jobs as a stableman and delivery person, he found work with the Boeing Airplane Company. Bruce and Elsie were among the early residents of Federal Way, Washington, where they lived for a number of years. At Boeing, he was trained in machining and tooling. During Boeing layoffs he worked for other aerospace companies in various parts of the country including Kansas, California, and Colorado. However, he spent most of his years of employment at the Boeing Company from which he was retired on January 1, 1985.

Following Elsie’s retirement, Bruce and Elsie traveled throughout the United States as full time RV’ers for about 14 years. They traveled to Southern Arizona and California most winters until 2003. In 1999 Elsie and Bruce joined daughter Beverly and her husband John in Pomeroy, Washington. Bruce’s skills in construction and management of people helped Beverly and John immensely in the renovation of the Hotel Revere. The hotel is now a National Register property.

Bruce loved a joke and to tell jokes. He was excellent storyteller. He was happiest when he made someone laugh. He was always ready for a party or a celebration. He loved hunting, fishing and the great outdoors.

     Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, brother Samuel, first born infant daughter Bernice Ellen and grandson Lee Eric Brovold. He is survived by his wife Elsie, daughters Barbara Ann Adams, Carol Sue (Adams) Brovold and her husband Ross, Beverly Lynn Adams-Gordon and husband John and his son Ronald Kyle Adams and wife Sawon. He enjoyed joking, fishing and boating with his 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grand children.

     A Funeral Mass was held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 23, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Pomeroy.

Memorials may be made to Tri-State Hospice Care 1221 Highland Ave, Clarkston WA 99403) or a charity of your choice.