Alberta Jane Hargens, 93, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, February 6. She passed away peacefully with family at her side.

Alberta was born on March 18, 1931, in Dante, South Dakota, and was raised on the family farm in Avon, South Dakota, by her parents, C.O. and Myrtle Ridgway. She worked at Yankton State Hospital and Wagner Hospital before moving to Sioux Falls, where she married Eugene Adamson on April 10, 1955. She was baptized on May 20, 1956, at First Congregational Church. Eugene and Alberta raised four children together: Dale, Karen, Tanya, and Roberta. Gene and Berta shared a love for riding horses and motorcycles. She later worked as an aide at Dow Rummel Village and as a childcare provider at Sioux Valley Hospital Daycare Center until her retirement.

Seventeen years after the passing of her first husband, Gene, she married Chris Hargens on October 7, 2000. Together, they spent many years traveling between Sarasota, Florida, and Sioux Falls. They could often be found dancing at the American Legion, sightseeing in Florida, or attending their many grandchildren's events.

Alberta had a deep appreciation for the land, animals, and the farm life that shaped her. She never lost her love for horses and enjoyed visiting Rugged Cross Stables, where she delighted in watching new foals play and couldn't resist giving a smooch to any horse that came close enough. She often reminisced about her farm girl days and never hesitated to offer advice on how things should be run. In her later years, nothing brought her more joy than visits from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at Bethany Meadows; it was one of her greatest comforts.

Alberta is survived by her son, Dale Adamson of Sioux Falls; daughters Karen (Bud) Jarvis of Louisville, KY, Tanya Adamson of Sioux Falls, and Roberta (Jim) Bruget of Brandon, SD; brother Wayne Simpson; six stepchildren; grandchildren Chelsie (Darren), Nolan, Megan (Paul), Allison (Jon), Aimee, Neil, Jacob (Kayla), Courtney (Tyler), Emma, and Julee; and great-grandchildren Seth, Luke, Sean, Bella, Wyatt, Boden, Gracelyn, Arend, Alexia, Greyson, Lennon, Bodie, Kinley, Zayden, and Casen. She is also survived by many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by first husband, Eugene Adamson; second husband, Chris Hargens; her parents, C.O. and Myrtle Ridgway; biological mother, Lola Stack; brother, Ron Simpson; and daughter-in-law, Beth Adamson, step-daughter, Kathy Ballard.

A Celebration of her Life will be held from 2 to 4 pm with a prayer service at 3:30 pm on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at the Miller Southside Chapel, 7400 South Minnesota Avenue, with a private burial at Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, her family requests donations be made to the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society: 3720 E Benson Rd Sioux Falls, SD 57104 or B Squad Dog Rescue: paypal.me/bsquaddogrescue or venmo @bsquad, phone number ending in 3942 or mail to PO Box 583 Brandon, SD 57005.