John Clarence Ward, 80, died in Rapid City at Monument Hospital on December 9, 2022.  He was born September 7, 1942, at Pierre, SD, the son of Arthur Clare and Mary Elizabeth (Gaughan) Ward. He was number seven of thirteen children. He graduated from Rigg’s High School, Pierre, South Dakota in 1961.

John married Sue Davis in 1963, in Pierre. To his union three daughters were born, Paula, Annette and Stefanie.

John saw Doris on the street in Deadwood and kept returning hoping to see her again. Fate intervened and brought them together at dance lessons in Piedmont, South Dakota where John was helping as a dance partner for the single ladies. He married Doris Ann (Bauer) Miller, the one he had been waiting for all his life on June 4, 1994. He and Doris considered themselves best friends and soul mates and truly shared a close and loving relationship. The gleam in his eyes when he talked about her could light up the darkest room.

John was fun-loving and loved to talk. He had the rare ability to make all people feel respected and liked, and he possessed the unique talent to draw a laugh or a giggle from them. No matter where he went, he was always recognized by someone and an immediate conversation soon broke out.

He worked at Snappy Delivery-Mayflower, Reel Industrial, Whistler Bearing, Rocky Mountain Bearing, and Johnson Machine. In 1990, Larry Olawsky hired Jack to start G&H Distributing in Rapid City and later he became a part owner. He retired in December 2014.

Survivors include his wife Doris, Rapid City; three daughters Paula (Tim) Shull and her sons RJ Bailie, Denver and Patrik Bailie, Rapid City; Annette Rall and her husband Bruce, Black Hawk; Stefanie Ward,  granddaughter Crysta Ward, grandson Devin Cooper, and great-granddaughter Mollie Ward; a stepson Michael Miller and his wife Alla (Lobachova),  children Michael David and Nicole Miller, Owasso, Oklahoma; a stepson David Paul Miller and his wife Janet (Andersen) and their children Lauren Ann (Jedeo) Manirikumwenatwe and great-granddaughter Adaline Manririkumwenatwe, Wellington, Colorado, Stacy (Andrew) Friedrich, Seattle, Washington, and Christopher Wilcox, Denver, Colorado. five brothers: Wayne, Jerry, Don and Mike Ward and six sisters: Kay (Jack) Mikkelson, Shirley (Bob) Hensel, Audrey Ward, Betty (Walt) Ormesher, Marsha Ward and Alexa (Don) Finn.

His parents, Arthur and Mary Ward, a sister, Peggy Ward and a brother, Paul Ward preceded him in death.

Services will be held in the spring of 2023, with details to be announced at a later date.