Duke Carlyle Adamson

On March 2, 2025, we were left heartbroken by the unexpected passing of a truly great man. Duke was a true man of integrity. That word describes him perfectly and is something that was very important to him.

He was born on July 22, 1970 in Caldwell, Idaho but was raised in Browning, Montana. His childhood was spent working on family farms and ranches in the summers and participating in wrestling and track during school. Duke joined the United States Army straight out of high school. He served as a specialist in the 10th Mountain Division. In his early 20’s he was a performer in the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show at Euro Disney in Paris, France. He rode bareback and performed Roman riding representing his Native heritage. Upon his return to the United States, he didn’t stray far from that western spirit and worked as a ranch hand until later finding his calling to be an electrician. Duke was employed with Cascade Electric in Great Falls, Montana for 25 years as an electrician and estimator. He had a strong loyalty to his employers, fellow co-workers, and customers. This dedication provided him a career that challenged him and blessed him with a wonderful work family. 

Duke was a devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, husband, father, and grandfather. Family was everything to Duke and anyone who enjoyed a conversation with him would quickly pick up on that. He was a humble man that prioritized supporting and caring for his family, a family he was so in love with, above all else.  He had many passions in life from fishing to hunting to basketball and even took up kayaking to humor his wife. All of which he shared with his family. Being a great father came naturally to Duke. He adored his girls and they adored him. He expressed it in so many ways from teaching them to ride their tricycles and later 4-wheelers, to chasing them all over rural Montana to watch ball games, to walking them both down the aisle to their awaiting husbands. He loved being a girl dad for sure, but was happy in welcoming his two sons in laws to the circle. His three grandchildren added more of the good stuff to his life and he embraced every bit of that love. Duke’s family is something he treasured and built with Terry through the best years of their lives. Their love was something evident to everyone around them and became the foundation of the fabric of their family. 

Duke’s love extended to the outdoors and was expressed in many ways from ice fishing with his cousin Robbie to a most recently checking off a bucket list item of riding to the Chinese Wall in the Bob Marshall Wilderness with his buddy Dave. He enjoyed many hours kayaking and fishing the Missouri River with his lovely bride of 27 years, Terry. Annually they took a trip with their dear friends, the Highwood crew, to camp and saddle up to ride into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Enjoying a good ole campfire with laughter and hearty meals was something he cherished each year. Duke was always the first to lend a hand at friend’s ranches and was fixture sorting bulls at the Malek Angus Bull sale.  He even sorted bucking horses from time to time, his quiet and efficient temperament was second to none when it came to livestock. Nature was never far from his heart or his thoughts. 

Duke is survived by his wife, Terry, daughters Rylee (Dylan) Evans and Tana (Ezra) Dormady, grandchildren; Mason, Kieralynn, and Charles, mother Dorothy Mae Guardipee, mother-in-law Bobbie Sander, siblings Roxie (Scotty) Augare, Carlene (Tom) McKay, Jay Adamson, Brett (Kim) Harwood, Brenda Meineke, and Craig Wellman, sister-in-law Trudy (Frank) Trochesset, Eugene and Anna Fisher and countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. Duke was preceded in death by, brothers Perry Adamson and Steve Adamson, sisters Renee Wellman and Cheryl Walling, father Carl Adamson, step father Gerald Guardipee, father-in-law Lee Allen Sander. 

The family would like to express their gratitude to the Belt Volunteer Ambulance, the County Sheriffs Deputies , and the two men that graciously stopped to help. 

Duke’s celebration of life and reception will be held May 3rd, 2025 at 2:00pm at the Great Falls International Airport Event Center, 2800 Terminal Drive, Great Falls, Montana. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship for the Highwood Public School has been established in Duke’s honor. Donations to the scholarship fund are welcomed. Inquires may be directed to Terry, Tana, or the school.