Woody Budig

US Army Retired Major Sherwood R. (Woody) Budig, 88 of Casper WY, took his final flight peacefully surrounded by his family on April 25, 2025, due to complications of Agent Orange.

Woody was born in Madison WI on April 13, 1937, to Raymond E Budig and Ruth E (Johnson) Budig. He grew up on a working family dairy farm in Marshall Wisconsin where he learned to hate milking cows. He had a younger sister Donalda.

Sherwood graduated high school in Marshall WI and then went on to attend college at the University of Wisconsin where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 1959. After college he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the US Army Infantry where he decided to take to the shortest line for physicals for basic Officer Training with his best friend and much to his surprise he ended up getting a flight physical and attending flight school in Fort Wolters TX and Fort Rucker AL and becoming a UH-1 (Huey) Aviator. While waiting for class to begin he attended jump school at Fort Benning GA. His military career sent him to Korea, two tours in Vietnam, Germany, Georgia, Alaska, and Colorado. While stationed in Alaska, he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff at Elmendorf Air force Base. At his last post in Fort Carson CO he invented, designed and the incorporated the first oxygen system for helicopters. He retired from the Army in 1980 and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal and Master Aviator Wings along with the Bronze Star and numerous other awards.

Woody went on to retire again from the Federal Aviation Administration in 2001. He was the Supervisor of the Flight Service Station in Sheridan WY till it closed. Upon being transferred, He and his family packed up and moved to Casper WY in 1991 and started working at the airport as the Flight Service Station Manager till his retirement. During his time in the FAA, he enjoyed teaching Aviation Education at many of the High Schools through out the state. Again, he earned several Federal and State awards for touching many young minds through education. After retirement Woody went on to be a caretaker and provider for special needs individuals where he touched the hearts of many of them and their families.

In 1962, while attending mountain training at Camp Dawson in Preston County WV, he met Patricia Smith, at the Annual Buckwheat Festival. On November 6, 1962, after 3 days of courting, they were married at Fort Cambel KY. In their 62 years of loving marriage, they had 3 wonderful children, Susan R. Budig, Stephanie R. Budig, and Scott R. Budig. Woody loved to travel every year with his family and all the family pets and even a chicken during one vacation to Wisconsin. He loved sightseeing and visiting old historical sights. His favorite pastimes were camping, fishing, boating, and telling stories around the campfire. Woody loved his gardening along with his favorite flowers of roses, daffodils, sunflowers, and irises. But he had a black thumb for growing trees. When not outdoors, he would be found tinkering around the house or in his garage doing woodworking. Woody loved reading books on the Civil War, World War II, and anything dealing with aviation and chickens. In his early years he enjoyed bowling and he and Pat were in several bowling leagues winning many trophies. He had learned to have a very mean spin on the ball. Woody was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packer and the University of Wisconsin Badgers. When Sherwood’s Grandson (Chris) played football for West Virginia University, he became one of their biggest fans along with Pat. He was a lifetime alumni member of the University of Wisconsin, The American Legion, The Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, and The Distinguished Flying Cross Association.

Remaining to cherish Sherwood’s memory are his wife Patricia Budig, Children Susan, Stephanie, and Scott Budig (Kellie Budig). Grandchildren Aaron, Matthew, Christopher Brown (Zabrya Brown), Scott Budig II. Great Grandson Caden Brown. His brothers in law are Richard Smith (Nada), and Kenneth Crowder. Nephews John, Sean, and Brian Smith. Nieces Melina Simpson and Tina Rodriguez. He had many “adopted” children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.

Preceding Woody in death are his parents, Mother and Father-in-law Ethel and Jobe Smith. Brothers in law, William (Bill) Johnson and Donald Smith. Sisters in law, Julia Smith and Shirley Crowder. Nephew Dean Johnson.

Memorial donations in Sherwood’s name may be directed to your Favorite Charity.

Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Fri. May 9, 2025 at Bustard & Jacoby Funeral Home. Chaplain Tami Rudkin will officiate. Interment with military honors will follow in Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery.

Services will be livestreamed and may be viewed by clicking here: Livestream