Dale LaVern Woodside passed away June 1, 2017 in Redmond, Washington after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was a self-made man, a family man, an astute businessman, a person always willing to help and offer advice to anyone who asked. Dale was born on the Hermann family farm near Crosby, North Dakota in 1933. He was delivered by his grandmother before the doctor could arrive.
The family moved to Port Angeles, Washington when Dale was a young boy. He attended Port Angeles High School where he met and later married Dorisjean King. He started his working life as a paper boy and moved on to a job at Fiberboard Mill. He took night classes while working at the mill and at his relatives Parkway Grocery, while also having four young children at home. Dale later became the president/director of Merrill and Ring Timber and held that position for many years.
In 1984 Dale and Dorie decided to leave town when Dale took a job with Seattle Stevedoring. The owners, the Stewart and Smith Family made the decision to part ways and Dale went with Tom Stewart and Services Group of America to be President and CEO of Amerifresh, Development Services of America, and GAMPAC. The rest of his business career was spent as Tom’s right hand man, a man of many hats, and they were like brothers. He stayed with SGA through the beginning stages of Parkinson’s Disease and the company’s move to Arizona. Dale would fly down and still work as a Board member for Tom until Tom’s untimely passing.
Dale was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church and attended until his move to Seattle. He spent a few years as the president of the Clallam County Fair and was imperative in making it what it is today. Dale was chairman of the Vocational Business Education Department Advisory Committee of Port Angeles School District 121. His public service included President of the Clallam Public Credit Union and of the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of credit unions.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren, dancing, fishing the lakes in his dad’s boat, sponsoring and following the M&R Timber slow pitch team to games and tournaments, and supporting his kids at their horse shows. Through the years he traveled a lot with his companies, visiting Japan often, Greece, and Russia. Dale was an exceptional cook and always made the holiday dinners. A German sausage making contest was held every year with his brothers, which he often won. He also enjoyed woodworking and made fabulous products.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Everett and Elsie (Hermann) Woodside, his brother David Woodside and his sister Diane Richards. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Dorisjean (King) Woodside and brothers Donald Woodside (wife Vicki) and Daniel E. Woodside (wife Margaret), his daughters Chris Brandt, Carolyn Rondeau (husband Chuck), and Cindy Lauderback (husband Les) and his son David Woodside (wife Stacy), and five grandchildren Jon Brandt, Cammy Lauderback, Dylan Rondeau (wife Dannielle), Chelsey Woodside and Dustin Woodside.
There will be a Memorial Service September 23, 2017 at 1pm at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Port Angeles with a reception to follow downstairs.
Gratitude to Redmond Heights Assisted Living and Evergreen Hospice staff for their compassionate care and to all the loving extended family who were there for Dale in so many ways and brightened his days.
