Adam Lee Ridgeway

Adam Lee Ridgway, age 38, passed away Saturday October 22, 2022, in a tragic motor vehicle accident. Adam was born on January 31st, 1984, in Lewistown to his dad, Rod Ridgeway and to his mom, Deb Myllymaki.
He was a 2002 graduate from Stanford High School. Adam excelled in football, basketball, and track. He received all-state and all-conference honors during his high school football career. He attended the University of Montana-Western where he studied wildlife biology. During his time at Western, he received a scholarship to play football where he played for five years for the DAWGS.
Although Adam achieved many great accomplishments in his younger years his greatest accomplishments of all was his three beautiful children, Brody Lee (13), Ryder John (10), and Allie Jo (8). Adam was a very devoted father, involved in every activity the kids were in, including coaching their wrestling and baseball teams. Adam loved camping, hunting, and boating with his children. Adam was a jack-of-all trades being skillful in carpentry, mechanics, or anything he laid his hands on. Adam was employed at United Grain Corporation in Moccasin for the last ten years. He worked his way up the ranks all the way to becoming the manager.
Adam was a devoted husband and father. He was recently united in marriage to Niki Balbach at Lone Tree in the Little Belt Mountains on June 4, 2022. Together they raised Adam's three children and Niki's two children, Jayce Olsen (20) and Tycee McVicker (14).
Adam is survived by his mom, Deb Myllymaki; dad, Rod (Pam) Ridgeway; siblings, Heidi (JJ) Brethorst, Andrew (Laura) Ridgeway; step-siblings, Mikki (Ben) Lyden, Jennifer (Jeremy) Ehrp, Lacey (Scott) Erickson, Josh (Gwen) Eastman, Kayla (Nick) Hammer; as well as eight nieces and nine nephews.
Adam is preceded in death by his grandparents, Pat and Lyle Myllymaki, Russel and Sylvan Ridgeway; "Auntie Pam" Myllymaki-Hammer; and "Uncle T" Myllymaki.
"The idea is not to live forever, but to create something that will. What lives forever? LOVE."
A Celebration of Life for Adam and Niki will be held at the Stanford High School, Stanford, MT, on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. A reception will follow at Stanford City Hall. Memorials may be made to the Stockman Bank in Stanford or the Belt Valley Bank in Belt. If you would like to send flowers, please contact Alpine Floral in Lewistown, MT.
Adam's Eulogy:
As I sat down to write my brother Adam's obituary with my younger brother Andrew and our cousin Britni, I asked them how are we to write Adam's whole life story in just a few paragraphs? The short answer is you just can't. So, I am up here today, to share with you all that knew my brother, whether he was a friend, a colleague, a child or a parent of a child that he coached, or a United Grain customer, however Adam has touched your lives, I am here to share with you, all of Adam's accomplishments and life stories he has made in the short time he was with us all.
Adam was a bright child growing up and full of energy all the time. My mom was always telling him "Adam slow down!" But to tell you the truth, the minute he was out of eyes site he was right back at it. Adam was a very athletic boy from the very start. During he and my brother Andrews time living with our mom in Belgrade, his first competition he did was bowling. He and Andrew were on a bowling league starting in 2nd grade. He chose his purple bowling ball and had it made to fit his little hand, and went out there and crushed it, bringing home trophies all the time. The next sport he tried was little league baseball. He was the team's pitcher and short stop. His team that year went to state in Glendive and won the tournament and advanced to Regionals in British Columbia.
Adam and Andrew moved back to Stanford in 6th grade to live at the ranch with our dad, I, our stepmom Pam and 5 step siblings Mikki, Jennifer, Lacey, Josh and Kayla. Another house Adam and Drew grew up in, spending almost every weekend at, was with our Auntie Pam, Uncle Bob, and cousins Britni and Nick. Adam learned all his hunting skills from our Uncle Bob and learned how to be kind and got his loving soul from our Auntie Pam. Britni and Nick became almost like another sister and brother to him, as he spent so much quality time growing up with them.
Here in Stanford, he again excelled in everything he did including his academics, making the honor roll all through school. He participated in Football, Basketball and track. In football he was awarded All Conference/All State. He was blessed with the Ridgeway speed, and oh boy could he run, crushing any opponent that got in his way. Adam with his speed and determination won Divisional track in the 300 meter hurdles his senior year and went onto State placing 2nd. After graduating high school, Adam went to play college football for the University of Montana -Western, where he studied Wildlife Biology. Adam played for the DAWGS for 5 years as their strong safety and contributed greatly to their 2002 and 2004 Championship wins.
During the first two years of college in the summer months Adam worked for R-Roofing where he was the foreman. The next two years in the summer months of college, he worked for Buler Masonry where he worked as a Mason. After finishing 5 years of studying Wildlife Biology and playing for the DAWGS, Adam moved back to Stanford where he worked as a carpenter for his cousins Lea and Jenny Mitchell's business, Big Bear Builders. After working 3 years for Big Bear Builders, he applied for a position in 2012 as a grain elevator operator for United Grain Corporation, and got the job. Adam worked his way up the ladder the last ten years, from cleaning out grain bins top to bottom. Loading trains e hours of the night, to early mornings, to being promoted to Assistant Manager and just recently being promoted again to the Manager position.
During his first years back home after college, Adam met his first wife and mother of his three beautiful children, Emily Sheppard. Adam and Emily began dating in 2007 and married September of 2011. Their first-born child Brody Lee was blessed into this world to them December 9th 2008. Being blessed again their second child Ryder John was born April 27th 2012. And finally, their baby girl Allie Jo was born June 16th 2014. Adam was such a proud papa.
I can almost explain it best by the Disney movie, the Lion King where Symba is lifted high above the grounds by his father. Adam was that father that lifted those kids high up in the air and was so proud of all of them. He was such a dedicated father to his children and was there for every first step, and for every first milestone they had. He was their wrestling coach, their T-ball coach and their Little League coach. Winning many championship tournaments. He lived for his children, they were his pride and joy.
Anyone that knew my brother, knew he wasn't a materialistic person, he didn't care how new his vehicles were or what his appearance looked like (sometimes he could look like a mountain man that just came straight out of hibernation with his overgrown hair and burly beard, but he didn't care what anyone thought about any of that. I always admired that about him. He was a carefree, laid-back guy. But boy could he have a good time. And when he got out on that dance floor, oh his moves, and anyone that has seen this, you know what the signature Ridgeway shuffle looks like. His smile was so infectious. When he smiled, he smiled so big you could hardly see his eyeballs.
Whenever Adam walked into the door and saw you, he would call out your nickname he had given you with great enunciation and it always had the same ring to it every time he said it. I can still hear his voice in my head calling out "Heidi Lynn"
Adam was a hard worker and very skillful at anything he did. He always picked up learning things very quickly. He was a great mechanic, learning all his skills from our dad and Uncle Kent. Any vehicles he had, he fixed them himself, they never went into a shop for repairs. And if anyone in our family needed any repairs, he was the one they went to. He was very good at masonry work as well, building his own mason walls behind his wood fire places at his homes and also for dad's wood stove as well. He was very skillful with wood working as well. He was in the process of building his very own shop by using his own processed wood from the mountains.
Adam was a loyal brother and son. He was such a great listener and had a way of talking me and our mom through any bad situation we were going through.
I will miss being able to call him on the phone to help calm me down and rationalize the situation. He and my brother Andrew also had a very tight bond as well. They were like twins, never leaving each other's sides. They played all sporting activities together throughout school including playing college football for the DAWGS together. Adam did have the upper hand on Drew boy when they were younger. Drew recalled a memory of them getting their first day of 1st and 2nd grade school pictured before heading to school, when mom had place them in front of a Blue Spruce Tree while she ran into the house to grab her camera. As soon as mom was out of site, Adam shoved Drew into the Blue Spruce. Mom came out and all she could hear was Drew crying and his little legs and feet just a flaying away in that tree. Mom said his little face was just peppered red from that tree. Drew says he still hates Blue Spruce trees to this day. I recalled a memory when mom had been working at the Judith Basin Courthouse here in town, typing up appeals for the commissioners and had to bring us kids to work with her that summer day. Well my toddler brothers quietly snuck away, and all I remember hearing is someone running into moms office screaming "Deb your boys are running naked through the sprinklers on the front lawn!" We went out, and here were trails of the boy's clothes all though out the lawn and those two boys were naked as jay birds laughing and running through those sprinklers.
In October of 2016 Adam started dating his forever wife Niki Balbach. Niki was a beautiful woman inside and out and Adam loved her dearly. She had a contagious laugh and a beautiful soul. She loved Adams children so much and they loved her right back. Niki brought to their relationship her two beautiful children Jase and Tycee, who Adam became very close to and loved them as his own, and had been discussing adopting Tycee to be his daughter. Adam and Niki shared their wedding vows four months ago with family and friends at a beautiful valley at Lone Tree located in the Little Belt Mountains. Adam and Niki's time as husband and wife were cut way to short, but their memories and love will last forever in our hearts. Adam and Niki's legacy will carry out forever through their children, Brody, Ryder, Allie Jo, Jase and Tycee.
Adam my brother and all the other names you were given though out your life; Atto, Adam man, Uncle Adam, Adam Ant, Oken Adam and the last, but not least the classic "butthole" our brother gave you.
Please know, you were loved by so many, and you will never be forgotten.
Until we meet again.
Arrangements are under the care of Creel Funeral Home. Condolences and memories can be shared at www.creelfuneralhome.com