Laverne "Vern" Gordon Adamson, age 86, passed away Sunday, July 1, 2012 at the Thief River Care Center, Thief River Falls, MN under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. Vern's funeral service will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, July 7, 2012 at St. John Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, MN, with Pastor Aaron Zuch officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls. Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM, Friday, July 6, 2012 at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls, MN with a 7 PM prayer service and also for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Saturday. Laverne Gordon Adamson was born on October 16, 1925, to Grant L. and Myrtle (Anderson) Adamson in Middle River, MN. He was baptized on December 1, 1925, at Mountain Lutheran Church of Adams, ND and confirmed on August 27, 1939, at Sarnia Lutheran Church in Nelson County, ND. He attended North Dakota Public Schools and received a diploma in 1940, in Devils Lake, ND. He worked for various farmers in North Dakota and did custom combining in the Midwest. Vern was inducted into the U.S. Army on June 6, 1945 serving in Italy as a supply clerk. Upon discharge on February 1, 1947, he returned to North Dakota to farm. Vern was united in marriage to Pearl Marie Habedank on October 6, 1949 in Mavie, MN. They made their home in Thief River Falls where he hauled mail from the train to the post office for 17 years. He worked for Lloyd VeVea at the service station on the corner of First Street and Main Avenue, later purchasing the station and renaming it Vern's Super Service. That location later became the Pennington County Law Enforcement Center. There he began selling Arctic Cat snowmobiles in 1963, becoming one of the earliest Arctic Cat dealers in the nation. In 1968, he built a new building on the west side of town now known as RV Sports, Inc. He retired in 1997, selling the business to his son, Randy. In 1976, Vern and Pearl purchased a cabin on Clearwater Lake. Since that time and since his retirement, they spent their time between the farm and the lake cabin. There are fond memories of adults, children, and grandchildren enjoying the fun, food, friendship, and fishing. Vern's 9 ½ pound walleye, mounted on the cabin wall still stands as a challenge for the family to find the elusive "bigger" walleye. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, Eagles, Elks, and St. John Lutheran Church all in Thief River Falls. He had a life-long love of horses. . Vern is survived by his loving wife, Pearl of Thief River Falls, MN; children, Randy (Judy) Adamson of Thief River Falls, MN, Susan (Gary) Paulson of Alexandria, MN, and Marsha (Jim) Ziegler of Detroit Lakes, MN; 8 grandchildren: Landon Adamson, Grand Forks, ND, Melissa (Adam) Haviland, Rosemount, MN, Andrea (Jacob) Paulson Bergstedt, Cincinnati, OH, Erika Paulson, Madison, WI, Jesse (Amanda) Ziegler, Navarre, FL, Christopher Ziegler, Burlington, VT, Matthew Ziegler, Moorhead, MN, Traci Adamson, Moorhead, MN, and 2 great-grandchildren: Bauer Bergstedt, Cincinnati, OH, Veda Haviland, Rosemount, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents Grant Adamson and Myrtle Wasley, step father Sigurd Wasley, four siblings: Merlyn Adamson, Marjorie Adamson, Delores Droppo, Glen Adamson, and infant children Linda Rae and Lloyd Gordon Adamson. ORGANIST: John Folland SPECIAL MUSIC: Don Wahlbeck SELECTIONS: Until Then, I Won't Have to Cross Jordan Alone CONGREGATIONS HYMNS: Here I Am Lord, God Bless Our Native Land CASKET BEARERS: Ron Droppo, Don Adamson, Lee Wilhelm, Mitch Hemmesch, Mark Hemmesch, Greg Habedank HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: All of Vern's Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren (listed in program) MILITARY HONORS: Ecklund-Holmstrom Post #117 American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2793