Newberg High School Class of '58

Michael Randolph Sturdevant, Obituary

Born: Longview, Washington to Davis and Annie Sturdevant. His family travelled and lived all over Oregon and Washington as his father, Davey, was a heavy equipment operator on highway projects throughout the Northwest. Mike attended several elementary and Jr. High schools in small towns wherever the highway went. Eventually the family settled in Newberg where Mike attended high school and graduated in 1958. After high school he went to work in sawmills in Willamina and Alsea before embarking on a life-long career in construction around Newberg and the Portland metro area. Mike was introduced to construction through his father-in-law Levi Dressel and joined the Carpenters Union Local 2275. He was a union member for over 55 years.

Typical of construction cycles, there were both busy and slow times, but due to Mike’s strong work ethic and high level of integrity, he was always able to stay busy. He worked for several local contractors including Page-Willcuts Construction, building homes in Newberg, as well as a multi-year housing project in Woodburn called Senior Estates. Then during the 1970’s housing boom, he started his own company, Mike Sturdevant Construction, building spec homes around Newberg, including College Park. His four boys took great pride in hearing their father say many times “I built that house,” on family drives around town.

Eventually, Mike graduated to commercial construction that saw him apply his skills to such projects as the Chehalem Park and Rec swimming pool, the Trask River Dam and several buildings at A-dec. With considerable experience in concrete construction, he was hired as a carpenter foreman with Donald M. Drake Company and built several massive bridges over the I-5 freeway and Tualatin River around Tualatin, Oregon. His next project with Donald M. Drake Construction was the Portland Public Schools Service Center. Following the Service Center project, Mike was invited to become a third partner in Tri-Mountain Construction, performing finish carpentry and specializing in doors and hardware installation in Portland high-rise buildings, schools, hospitals and other commercial buildings. Eventually Mike had the opportunity to buy out his two partners and operated the business with his son Todd.

In 1996 he hung up his tool belt and retired from the trade.

Even before Mike showed considerable construction skills that would carry him through his career, he began building a family when he married Peggy Karen Dressel. They had four boys, Dennis, Todd, Darin and Chad. Peggy proceeded Mike in Death in 2000, and Dennis in 2011. Added to his family were daughter-in laws Nancy, Cathie Jo, and Margaret.

With family being an ever-important role in Mike’s life, he struck gold a second time when he became reacquainted with his Class of ’58 schoolmate, Jeanne Ochsner and was married in

2010. Along with Jeanne, Mike added to his family her children: Todd and Karen Hall, Teddi Hall and Gary Forsyth, and Nick and Celine Hall. He loved them as his own.

Mike and Jeanne were snowbirds and traveled every winter in their motorhome to Palm Springs. As much as they enjoyed the warm weather, they longed for family and looked forward to returning home to Newberg.

Along with the aforementioned family, Mike is survived by his sister, Patty Findley, brother Jeff Sturdevant, Grandchildren: Tyler and Monica, Mitchell and Wendy, Madison, Hiller, Everly, Malina, Sara, Lauren, Whitney, Harlee, Brodi, Brian and Brad. Great-grandchildren: Timmy, Emily, Mia, Asher, Phineas, Campbell, Everett and Samuel.

The celebration of Mike’s life was held on Monday, August 25th at Newberg Friend Church.