Jerry Daniel Adamson, age 86, of Cody, Nebraska passed away peacefully, with his wife Deloris by his side, on September 17th , 2025, at Linden Court in North Platte.
He was born in Valentine, Nebraska on February 22nd 1939, as the first-born child of Emmet and Helen (Newberg) Adamson. He had one brother, Rex, and they rode horses every day to their District #88 schoolhouse. He attended his freshman year of high school at the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis and attended Cody-Kilgore High School for his remaining three years, graduating in 1956.
Basketball was one of his favorite sports. His senior year Jerry was named “Most Valuable Player of the Year” and his team were District Champions. He attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado for six quarters where he was a member of Farmhouse Fraternity, Rodeo Club, Riding Club, and competed on the livestock judging team.
During this time, he was elected vice-president of the Nebraska Junior Stock Growers Association as well as being selected their “Youth of the Year”. Jerry ‘s love of ranching and desire to continue his family’s legacy, brought him back to the ranch. On June 17th , 1960, he married Deloris Marshall (Dee) as the first wedding in the new Episcopal Church in Valentine. They celebrated their 65th anniversary this past June. Together they raised four children – Todd, Tracy, Taylor and Tanya and have been blessed with eleven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and counting.
Jerry appreciated good horses, exceptional cattle, Cornhusker football, a competitive game of cribbage and he had a heart for people. He loved roping of any kind and was in his element when heeling calves in the branding pen or roping steers in an arena. Each spring, after appraising his newest crop of calves, he would say with pride, “You know, I think these are the best set of calves we’ve ever raised.”
A pastime Jerry shared with his father was hunting coyotes with his prized greyhounds and you were guaranteed a wild ride if you were a passenger on one of his coyote hunting escapades!
Jerry’s passion for judging and showing cattle was rewarded by winning numerous state and national awards across the country. He was asked to judge livestock in nearly every major show across the United States as well as the prestigious Canadian Western Agribition. One of his proudest accomplishments was winning every major pen of five feeder show in the nation in one year, each one a different group of steers, which has never been duplicated yet today. He attributed much of his success in the show cattle industry to his herdsman and good friend, Keith Dusenberry. Keith and his wife Candi worked on the Rocking J Ranch for thirty-two years along with their daughters Ardith and Aimee and Jerry thought of them as extended family.
Jerry believed in giving back to his community and was committed to youth development in livestock production. He served on the First National Bank Board of Directors for many years, was a Cherry County Commissioner for twelve years, presided over both the local fire district and the Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest Land Users Association, served on the Valentine High School Board of Education for sixteen years, as well as serving on the District #180 school board. He was a 4-H Beef Leader, and he and his wife Dee hosted college interns and judging teams from several universities to their ranch who all hoped to gain from Jerry’s comprehensive knowledge of the beef industry. He was a big promoter of Cherry County and referred to it as “God’s Own Cow Country.” On the national level, he served on the board of directors for the American Chianina Association, serving two years as chairman of the board.
Jerry’s dedication to agriculture brought numerous awards and recognition. A highlight of his accolades include being named “Top Rancher in Cherry County”, “Nebraska Cattleman of the Year”, “Outstanding Young Farmer/Rancher in Livestock Breeding”, “University of Nebraska Block and Bridle Honoree”, elected to membership in the “Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement”, received the coveted “Commercial Producer of the Year” bestowed by the Beef Improvement Federation and was appointed an “Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska” by former governor, Kay Orr.
Jerry will be remembered for his integrity, leadership, innovative ideas in the cattle industry, mentorship of youth in agriculture, and unwavering faith in the importance of hard work and family. His impact on ranching and agriculture in Nebraska and across the nation is lasting and his devotion to nurturing the next generation will be felt for years to come.
He is survived by his wife, Deloris, children Todd (Stacey) Adamson, Tracy (Kirk) Olson, Taylor (Kerri) Adamson and Tanya (Eric) Storer. Grand-children – Dayna (Trey) Wasserburger, Caitlyn (Pat) Jacobson, Jayde Winkelbauer, Braden (Alyssa) Storer, Emmet Storer, Hailey Storer, Lindsay (Kelly) Taylor, J.T. Adamson, Sydney (Chadron) Coffield, Jakob (Courtney) Adamson and Payton Adamson. Great- grandchildren – Westyn, Wacey, Gwyn and Gentry Wasserburger, Sage Winkelbauer, Hazel Jacobson, Lewis and Eowyn Storer and Thane Adamson. He is also survived by his brother, Rex (Evalyn) Adamson, nephews Brad (Kim) Adamson, Bart (Kelly) Adamson, and Bret (Velda) Adamson, niece Angel (Greg) Davis and Godchildren Gordon (Lori) Coble, Ardith (Billy) Seaman, and Aimee (James) Wilkins and numerous cousins, great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Monte Adamson, parents Emmet and Helen (Newberg) Adamson, mother and father in-law Wayne and Carrie (Wright) Marshall, step- father-in-law, Earl Schufeldt and brother-in-law, Gordon Marshall.
Funeral service were held September 27, 2025. at the Valentine Methodist Church in Valentine, NE. Burial is at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine.
Memorials can be made to “Jerry Adamson Memorial Scholarship” which the family will use to support and promote youth in the field of agriculture.