Donald L. Ward

Donald L. Ward, 88 of Lewistown died Tuesday afternoon, November 17th, 2020, at the Villa in Lewistown of natural causes. He was born August 21, 1932 in Lewistown, the son of William and Marjorie (Hebb) Ward. He received his schooling in Hobson where he excelled in basketball playing on the State Championship Team. He graduated in 1951 and then went to Montana State College in Bozeman and played basketball as a walk-on. On March 22, 1952 he was united in marriage to Dolores Robinson in Harlowton, MT. They made their home in Lewistown and he entered the United States Army in 1952 serving in Korea. He received his honorable discharge in 1954 and returned to Lewistown and worked at Dunlap Chevron. He then worked for Doug Brown at the OK Tire Store which he purchased in the mid 1960's. He owned and operated the OK Tire Store until his retirement in the late 1990's.

Don was active with the Western Invitational Basketball Tournament held in Lewistown as a player and longtime sponsor. He was a basketball official and member of the Montana Officials Association from 1954 to 1975 and was inducted into the Montana Officials Hall of Fame in 1988. He was a sponsor and coach for the Lewistown Girls Softball for many years, was a member of the Eagles Lodge, Elks Lodge, Friendship Lodge #37 A.F. & F.M. of Lewistown, Central Montana Shrine Club and founding member of the Ah-Ooga Patrol, 61-year member of Fergus Post #16 American Legion, and past member and past president of the Montana Tire Dealers Association.

He is survived by his wife, Dolores, of 68 years; daughters: Linda Ward of Lewistown, Terri Ward (Kerry Benedict) of Caldwell, ID and Sandy (George) Heinzelman of Lakewood, CO; three brothers: Joseph (Shirley) and David (Joanne) both of Lewistown and Bob (Pennie) of Fairfield, MT; four sisters: Jean Stevenson of Hobson, MT, Kate Stoner of Lewistown, MT Betty Stinar of Great Falls, MT and Barbara (Mike) Headlee of Billings, MT; three grandchildren, one step-grandchild, nine great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one granddaughter: Becky Richey in 2013, two brothers: Bill and Ray, and his parents.

Memorial Services for Don Ward will be Friday, November 20, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. in the Cloyd Chapel, cremation has taken place and committal will be at a later time in Central Montana Memorial Gardens. The Cloyd Funeral Home is assisting the family

Friends are asked to make memorials to the Melanoma Research Foundation, the Central Montana Foundation or to the charity of their choice and they may be left with the Cloyd Funeral Home. Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com.