Merlyn McAdam, 66

ÝÝÝ Thief River Falls - Merlyn McAdam, 66, died on Saturday, August 21, 2004 at St. Maryís Hospital in Rochester.

  Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 26, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, with Rev. John Wollenzein officiating. Casket bearers include Griffin Newland, LeRoy Busse, Haze Beito, Jeff Widing, Dean Reierson and Larry Beito. Military honors will be provided by American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post 117 and Veteran Of Foreign Wars Post 2793. Interment will follow at Woodman Cemetery in Middle River.

ÝÝÝVisitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 25, with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to services at the church.

ÝÝÝMerlyn Howard McAdam was born September 18, 1937 on the family farm in Huss Township, Roseau County, the son of Merlyn E. and Gladys C. (Beito) McAdam.  He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Trinity Lutheran Church and attended school in Thief River Falls.

ÝÝÝBuzz entered into the service with the US Army, serving in Germany, Texas and California.  While in Texas he gave Elvis Presley his fatigues, tested him to get into the army and was stationed with him at the same base in Germany. He was honorably discharged April 30, 1962.

ÝÝÝOn August 8, 1956 he was united in marriage to Josephine Votava in Thief River Falls. The couple lived in California and Texas before moving to a five acre mini farm in Queen Creek, Ariz., where they raised their family. Buzz retired from the US Post Office and in 1986 he moved back to Thief River Falls. The last several years, Buzz was blessed with his special friend Grace Busse and her family.

ÝÝÝBuzz was a member of Mesa Moose Lodge, TRF American Legion, Eagles Club and Ducks Unlimited. He was a fun loving person who enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, ice fishing, and fishing derbies. He especially loved to visit with family and friends; he never met a stranger. He loved to cook, especially barbecues, Buzzy burgers, dove hunt feasts and western omelets.

ÝÝÝSurvivors include his children: Darla Schmier, Rebecca McAdam, Debra McAdam, all of Mesa, Ariz., Ward (Jolene) McAdam of Queen Creek, Ariz.; daughter-in-law Angelica McAdam of Mesa, Ariz.; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sisters: Jo Ann Widing of Thief River Falls, Peggy ?Maxine? (Vern) Reierson of Thief River Falls, Gladys ?Bobbi? Roberta Pratt of Reno, Nev. and Scottsbale, Ariz.; along with several nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

ÝÝÝHe was preceded in death by his son, John McAdam; his parents; two brothers-in-law, Delbert Widing and Lorne Pratt; and a special friend Grace Busse.

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