Sherman Ousdale

Sherman Ousdale (Curley), age 93, of Bellingham passed away peacefully at home Thursday, February 8, 2024 with his daughter by his side. He was born October 30, 1930 in Bellingham to his parents Sigurd & Alice (Espetvert) Ousdale who emigrated from Norway in the early 1900s in search of a better life. They homesteaded in Whatcom County where they raised three children, Tom, Sherman & Shirley. Sherman attended Mt. Baker High School. His first job at age 15 was with the US Forest Service, and when he turned 16 he joined the US Army where he was stationed in Japan, China & Korea, and was honorably discharged from the 25th Infantry Division in December 1949 as Staff Sergeant. Upon returning home in 1950, he went to work for Seattle Light Company, hand falling timber.  Between 1950-1958 he worked for various companies falling timber;  Jim Silvas, Johnny Geron, Herb Talmadge, Svend Larson, Finley Hayes, George Impero, Ray Johnson, Norm Strand, Hellyer Brothers and others. In the summer during these years he worked in the Fish Cannery business in Alaska. In 1958 he worked with Norm Robertson, which led to a timber cutting contract partnership with Gale Culver, and in 1964 Norm became a partner in Washington Loggers Corp. Sherm continued to do contract cutting for them and later formed a partnership with Archie Monaghan. In 1963 Finley Hays recruited him into the Deming Logging Show. Since then he has called it home, filling many shoes and receiving various awards, including 1966 President, 2000 Bull of the Woods, and the 1986 Gold Axe Award (which made Sherm a Triple Crown recipient).  He was also a Grandstand announcer for 25 years, grounds caretaker, and served on the executive board and many committees. He had a love for woodworking and fishing trips at Big Bar Lake, and his biggest passion was his Moose hunting trips in Alberta, Canada, which became his second home with the McRann family. In 1957 he married Barbara Jean Ford and had two daughters, Vickie & Sandy.  In 1974 he married Mary Elizabeth Smith. Elizabeth had three children from her first marriage, Gary, Mike and Karen. Sherman always had a story (or ten) to share, a joke to hear, a shoulder to lean on, and his door was always open. His Hemingswayesque writing led to many published articles and stories in various Newspapers, Loggers World, and the DLS programs. His signs are proudly displaced on the grounds of the DLS and homes, along with his diamond willow wood carvings and artwork. He was a “Scatological Purveyor of Bovine Excrement” and proud of it. This, along with his humor, entertained many. His immense pride for his Norwegian Heritage and his parents who sought a better life for their children and future generations reflected in everything he did. He was one of the good guys. He loved his family, his friends and his country (and the princess next door).  Sherman was loved by many and will be missed deeply. Sherman leaves behind two daughters; Vickie Henderson and Sandy Ousdale, five grandchildren; Ryan Ousdale, Zach Henderson, Stephanie Henderson, Nick Deaton and Josh Deaton, three great-grandchildren; Addelyn Ousdale, Blake Fugett and Noah Deaton, and numerous nieces and nephews and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; Sigurd and Alice Ousdale, Uncle Gibby, brother Tom Ousdale and sister Shirley Payne, his first wife Barbara Jean, and his loving and devoted wife Mary Elizabeth Ousdale. Our hearts are at peace knowing they are all reunited. The family would like to thank everyone for their support during this difficult time and invite you to share with them in the celebration of Sherman’s life. There will be a graveside service at Saxon Cemetery Saturday, March 23, 2024 @ 11:00am, and a Celebration of Life following at 2:00 pm, at the Deming Logging Show Museum, 3295 Cedarville Rd. Bellingham, WA. Sherman had a nickname for almost everyone he met, when signing his guest book on the 23rd, the family asks that you please add your nickname next to your name in honor of him. In Lieu of flowers, please donate in his name to the Deming Logging Show, P.O. Box 837, Deming WA 98244.