James W. Adams, COL. (Ret.) USAF

After a courageous battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Jim passed away on October 15, 2026.

Services are scheduled at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Miller Funeral Home Downtown, 507 S. Main Ave., Sioux Falls, SD.

Jim was born January 3, 1946, at Sioux Valley Hospital. On February 26, 1946, he was joyously adopted by Walter E. and Dakota B. Adams. When he was 4 1/2 the family welcomed another son, Robert L. Adams, and their beautiful family was complete.

Jim attended school in Sioux Falls and graduated from Washington High School in 1964. He received a BS in Political Science and Government in 1969 from USD. Due to his lifelong interest in flight and airplanes Jim joined the US Air Force and left for Officer Training School on the 4th of July 1969. He was commissioned on September 30, 1969, and then stationed at Travis AFB. He next served in Greenland at Sondrestrom AFB and Charleston AFB in South Carolina. He was honorably discharged from active duty in June 1972. Returning to Sioux Falls he entered graduate school at Mankato State University and earned a Masters of Urban Planning degree in 1973.

He began his career in Urban Planning and Development in Greeley, CO at Nelson, Haley, Patterson and Quirk. In May of 1975, he returned to Sioux Falls to marry and move his work focus back to his beloved hometown as Asst. Planning Director for the City of Sioux Falls.

Jim and Georgia (Cutshall Fellows) Adams were married June 14, 1975, and he became an instant father to Georgia's seven-year-old son, John David. In 1976 Jim designed, contracted and did much of the construction (along with his brother, Rob) on their new home. In May 1980 their family grew with the birth of their son, James Benton. Again, in February 1982, they welcomed a third son, Christopher Warren.

His next twenty years were spent with several development companies and the South Dakota Air National Guard. His plate was always full with family, work, the Guard, ownership and reconstruction of an historic apartment building and completing two additional graduate degrees, an MBA from USD and Air War College.

In 1998 Jim took a six-month active-duty assignment at CINCPAC in Oahu, Hawaii. He retired from the SDANG in 1999 and then returned to Hawaii to continue work on his CINCPAC project as a contract employee. It was a wonderful place for family visits, but Jim and Georgia decided that it was not the right time for a total relocation.

Jim's final career move was to the Air Force Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, CA, beginning in September 2001 as a civilian USAF employee. He developed increasingly responsible positions, retiring January 31, 2018, as Chief, Strategic Planning Branch.

Jim deeply loved his family, our country, the military, working and "planes, trains, automobiles and boats."

Jim was an avid road bicyclist, ice skater, hiker, and pilot. He earned his private pilot license when he was twenty-one and has been flying ever since. Jim and Georgia currently own two airplanes. Flying was his favorite hobby. He particularly enjoyed flying at night, although Georgia did not. When the boys were younger, the family's favorite activity was boating and waterskiing. Many happy weekends were spent at area lakes.

Jim is survived by his wife of 51 years, Georgia; their three sons, James Benton (Cori) Adams, Westport, CT, Christopher Warren Adams, Los Angeles, CA, and John David (Jessica) Fellows, Santa Ana, CA; grandchildren, Dakota and Sienna Adams, Westport, CT, Nathan Fellows, Las Vegas, NV and David Fellows, San Diego County, CA; great grandchildren, Raleigh Fellows, Lake Forest, CA, Wesley, Warren and Wylder Fellows, Las Vegas, NV; brother, Robert Adams, Sturgis, SD; biological half-sister, Gayle Scholl, Yakima, WA; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Jim was preceded by his parents, Walter E. and Dakota B. (Hegglund) Adams; stepmother, Glena Adams; stepsisters, Melva Grotewold and Carol Anderson; and his aunts, uncles, and several cousins.