Born 2/10/82 in Woodruff, Idaho. Married Marinda Irene John 4/27/04. Died 12/28/63. They had 11 children.
From my father’s written words I quote, “I was born of the finest of parents, ambitious, honest and kind. “ While just a lad his father bought a band of sheep and Dickie boy became the herdsman. As the band grew in number, a camp wagon was purchased and one of his older brothers moved the herd from pasture to hillside, from ranch to ranch. Dick drove the wagon, hauled the wood and water, cooked and kept the campsite clean. Often they would be gone from home 3 to 4 months. Father never forgot the loneliness of the desolate hills of Arbon Valley or the sound of a coyote’s howl. In the afternoons he would walk out to the herd., hoping to be with his brother, but the sheep kept brother on the go. Only in the darkness of the night when the sheep were bedded down could they be together. Father never completed one full year of school. He would always be 2 or 3 months late in the fall and would go again with the sheep at the first sign of spring.
Father was 19 when his dear father passed away. His mother handed him the checkbook saying, “Dickie, it is now your responsibility.” He never disappointed his mother, brothers or sisters whom he loved dearly all the days of his life. One night at a dance at Portage father saw a “pretty little gal” whom he said he knew that very night he wanted for his wife. Her name was Irene John. She called him Richard. He took her home from the dance and made a date to see her on Sunday. Richard lovingly courted Irene for several months, then he asked her to be his wife. But Irene was just 16 and he was 18. She was not ready to get married so suggested they quit going together for two years. Each dated other friends, and father admits there were times when he was a bit concerned and afraid some of the other boys would cut him out. However, he kept his promise and never asked her for a date, just danced with her a couple of times during the socials.
At the end of the two years he called on Irene and he became her special beau. They kept company for almost two more years, then he again proposed and this time she said yes. Father picked her up in a black top buggy early on the morning of April 26, 1904. As they drove down the lane from her home he could see her sweet mother standing on the step crying, and Irene too was sobbing at his side. He stopped the team, put his arm around her and whispered, “I’ll take you back, darling, if you want me to.” Irene couldn’t speak, only shook her head. Father often wondered just what he would have done if she had nodded to go back. They drove on to Logan to the temple and were married the next day.
The first year of their marriage they lived in Woodruff where their first child, Willis, was born March 27, 1905. That fall they moved to Sterling, Idaho where he farmed and raised cattle.
Father was a hard worker and was called to fill many positions in the church. He was counselor in the bishopric in 1911 and 1912. On February 15, 1913 he was set apart as Bishop, a position he held for 17 years, being released May 11, 1930. Father was a humble man but strong in faith, never wavering. He stood at the head of his household and as father of the Sterling Ward in righteousness, remembering always that God was just a prayer away, and God did inspire and direct him and he humbly endeavored to do that which was right and for the best good of his family and ward.
He also was busy in civic affairs as trustee for the school board and irrigation project. He and a friend built and operated a fine dance hall., During World War 1 he and mother wore masks and went into the homes of those stricken with flu. In one week father made five trips to Blackfoot each time returning with a casket tied to the top of his car. Three of the five were for members of one family. They never worried about bringing the germ home to their own family of eight children. They knew God would take care if they ministered unto His.
On January 5, 1926 their youngest son, Leland, was born, giving them (in father’s words) “six fine sons and five beautiful daughters.” Father was a good provider . We had many of the luxuries of life. In school or at church if our class planned a party and asked for volunteers to take a car or sleigh, we could always raise our hand. We knew without asking that father would take a load. He loved people, celebrations and baseball.
In 1930 he sold out at Sterling and moved to the Tyhee flat where he farmed and founded Ward’s Dairy. Father and Mother served as Temple Officiators, also as Stake Missionaries. They stayed young at heart. When father was 80 years old he went bowling with his sons-in-law, and was the best sport on the giant racer and in the barrels at the Ward family reunion held at Lagoon. Father loved the gospel and worked hard to activate and convert others, always bearing this testimony, “ I have received much joy in laboring in this church for it is true. I am a dyed-in-the-wool Mormon and I’m proud of it.”
To this date father’s posterity number 142-six sons, five daughters, 46 grandchildren, 85 great grandchildren. Of this number only four grandchildren and one great grandchild have passed away.
For myself, my brothers and sisters I say, “We , too, were born of the finest of parents, ambitious, honest and kind. They didn’t just tell us the way, they showed us by their life. God, in His kindness, gave them to us.
Eurilla Ward Dunn