Matter of Adoption of Sichmeller

WUEST, Acting Justice.

This is an appeal from an order declaring Lance Ronald Sichmeller adopted. We affirm.

Lance Ronald Sichmeller was born on October 8, 1974. His parents, Jill Gross Sichmeller and Ronald Sichmeller, were divorced on August 25, 1975. From August 1975 until August 1977, Ronald visited Lance six times and made sporadic child *873support payments. After Jill married farmer Frank Mills in 1977, however, Ronald ceased all contact with Lance. That year, Ronald developed multiple sclerosis.

On June 24, 1981, Ronald petitioned the court to terminate his parental rights so that Frank…