Remembering 2014 Inductee Richard Adee

Richard Adee (1935-2026)

The South Dakota Hall of Fame extends heartfelt condolences to the family of 2014 Inductee Richard Adee, who passed away peacefully on September 30, 2026, at the age of 90. Described as a gentle and humble man, his dedication to his work touched the lives of far more people than he would ever have claimed for himself.

Richard’s legacy will continue to inspire generations, and we are proud to share his story, as well as feature him in the Legends & Learning Program. Through this program, Richard has impacted South Dakota classrooms and beyond. His example of perseverance, generosity, and faith will continue to be a source of inspiration for many years to come.

Richard was born on December 29, 1935, in Arnold, Nebraska. As a boy, he was introduced to beekeeping by his father and uncles, who first took up the work during the Depression as a way to supplement their teaching incomes. What began as a simple family pursuit grew into a lifelong calling. Richard went on to attend Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, and North Park College in Chicago, Illinois, carrying that early love for the bees with him wherever he went.

In 1957, Richard and his brother Stanley purchased a commercial beekeeping operation in Bruce, South Dakota, caring for 1,600 colonies for honey production. Together they began moving their bees between South Dakota and Mississippi with the seasons, a migratory approach that would later extend to California, Washington State, and Texas.

Just two years later, in 1959, Stanley was killed in a devastating truck accident. Richard carried his grief and chose to keep building, driven by a desire to honor his brother's memory. That same year, he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Alice Bergstrom.

With Richard's steady vision, Adee Honey Farms grew in the decades that followed, expanding into Cedar Rapids, Nebraska, and Clay Center, Kansas, and adding operations in Roscoe, Kimball, Clark, and Miller. Over time, it became the largest commercial beekeeping operation in the United States, with more than 80,000 bee colonies and a dedicated team of nearly one hundred people.

Richard also understood how closely farmers and beekeepers depend on one another. He helped position Adee Honey Farms as an important provider of pollination services, bringing bees to almond orchards in California and to apple orchards in Washington State.

For all of this success, Richard never lost his grounded, unassuming nature. He did not see his work as a path to recognition but as a daily blessing. He loved what he did every single day, finding joy in the rhythm of working outdoors and treasuring the colleagues, friends, and neighbors he shared it with.

Richard's care extended well beyond his own business. When beekeepers across the country faced unstable markets and bee diseases that resisted treatment, he stepped forward on their behalf. He worked for legislative changes in Washington, D.C., that helped stabilize the honey market, and he partnered with many to find new ways to protect bee populations and the families whose livelihoods depend on them.

He was a founding member of the American Honey Producers Association and served in many roles there, including as President for many years. He also gave his time to the National Honey Board, the South Dakota Beekeepers Association, and numerous other industry boards. His service was recognized with honors including South Dakota Beekeeper of the Year and the National Honey Board Service Award.

Richard gave generously to his hometown of Bruce, supporting local initiatives, sponsoring community efforts, and helping to strengthen the town he called home. He believed deeply in education and served for fifteen years on the Sioux Valley School Board, where he held leadership roles. He also served on the Brookings Wesleyan Church board.

Richard is survived by his beloved wife, Alice (Bergstrom) Adee; his sons, Bret (Connie) Adee and Kelvin (Darla) Adee; his daughter, Marla (Craig) Hoyer; 11 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Mae Adee, and his siblings, Robert Adee, Donna Brown, Stanley Adee, and VernaMae Johnson.

To learn more about the work Richard built, visit Adee Honey Farms at adeehoneyfarms.com.

Services

A family visitation will be held on Thursday, October 8, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Eidness Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held on Friday, October 9, at 10:30 a.m. at Gracepoint Wesleyan Church, with lunch served afterward. Interment will take place at Elmwood Cemetery in Bruce, South Dakota.