Fr. John Francis Ward, born Sept. 13, 1931, died at the Livingston Memorial Hospital on Friday, Oct. 3, after valiantly fighting heart disease and cancer.

John was born in Melrose, Iowa, the fifth child of Thomas and Lorraine (D'Autermont) Ward.

John is survived by his best friend and life companion, Joannie Lee Warnke, and his beloved little miniature poodle, Kiki. Other survivors include his brothers, Louis (Maureen) Ward and Bob (Donna) Ward of Bozeman and Richard (Shirley) Ward of Cincinnati; sisters, RoseMarie (Jim Bichler) Ward of Madison, Wis., Clo (Bruce) Branaby of Albuquerque, N.M., Genevieve (Charles Potter) Cotter of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Hannah (Wally) Young of River Falls, Wis.

He is also survived by members of Joannie's family: Linda Hoagland and children of Wibaux, Christopher Lea of Apple Valley, Minn., Mike (Mae Gress) Warnke of Ashland and Ken Warnke of Helena.

John proudly boasted of over 40 nieces and nephews, many grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and also Joannie's four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

John graduated from Holy Rosary High School in Bozeman in 1949. During his high-school years, he enjoyed dancing, play-acting with the family, basketball and track. He helped his parents and siblings with the family farm at Gallatin Gateway.

He attended Carroll College, graduating in 1954. During that time he entered the seminary program at Carroll College. His Carroll years brought him great success academically and in sports. He set the 880 and mile track records, which he held until the late 1980s. He was inducted into the Carroll College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. John furthered his education by obtaining a master's degree at St. Mary's University in Winona, Minn., in 1993.

John attended St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and was ordained May 31, 1958. His first Mass was at Holy Rosary Parish in Bozeman. As a priest, John served in several parishes in Montana and outside of the United States. He began his priestly ministry at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Dillon. Other assignments included St. Michael Parish in Conrad, then on to the St. Helena Cathedral in Helena, two years at the Mission in Guatemala, several years in the international program "Movement for a Better World," back to the Cathedral in Helena as rector, Pope John XXIII Parish in Missoula, St. Michael Parish in Drummond, St. Theodore Mission in Avon, Holy Family Parish in Three Forks and Valley of Flowers in Belgrade; then retirement.

After his retirement he lived in Billings and assisted parishes there. During the last few years he has resided in Livingston and assisted at St. Mary's in Livingston, St. Margaret's in Clyde Park and St. Joseph's in Big Timber.

John was an enthusiastic hiker, camper, climber and cross-country skier. He loved the outdoors. John was also an accomplished artist. He participated in many art shows in Montana, Washington and Arizona. Every year for 12 years, you could find him at the Virginia City Art Festival in August. He was also instrumental in the Chico Art Show for several years. His fine art included pastels, watercolors and acrylic in subjects of wildlife, floral and fauna, period pieces and landscapes. In recent years, he was a very active member of the Gallatin Good Sam RV Club and was president for a short period of time before his illness.

John was passionate about life, his loved ones, his family and friends and the Lord, Jesus Christ, whom he served and was faithfully dedicated to his ministry in the Roman Catholic Church.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Lorraine (D'Autermont) Ward; and a brother, Dr. Joseph Ward.

Join us in the celebration of John's life. Visitation will be Sunday, Oct. 5, at Dahl Funeral Chapel in Bozeman 12n5 p.m., followed by visitation at 6 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Livingston. The vigil will take place Sunday at 7 p.m. at St. Mary's. Additional visitation will be at Dahl Funeral Chapel, Monday, Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. to noon. The funeral will be Monday, Oct. 6, at 2 p.m. at Holy Rosary Parish in Bozeman. Interment will follow at Sunset Hills Cemetery.

Donations can be made to the Montana Cancer Institute Foundation, 500 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com