Obituary - Mildred June Ward

February 11, 1928-November 10, 2024

Mildred June Ward was born on February 11, 1928, to Liz and Merritt Yeoman in Fallon, NV. She left this earth on November 10, 2024, and was gathered to Heaven to worship at her Savior’s feet. It is the life lived on the dash between those two dates that made her the most extraordinary of people. There are not enough words or paper to accurately capture the woman we called Mom, Ma, Gram, Gramma, Millie, and Mildred.

She spent her growing up years on Ferguson Street across from the Old High School—where she graduated in June 1945. She had a great childhood playing with friends and attending local schools—including Cottage School, West End, and Oats Park. Throughout her growing up, she played competitive sports, including anything involving running—like track, baseball, and especially basketball.  She won several trophies for her athletic endeavors.

She married her sweetheart, Stu Ward, while still in high school and five days before he was deployed to the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Once Stu returned, they established their home here in Fallon and began their family. She worked many jobs throughout the early years—as a waitress at various restaurants, the Fallon Theatre, and Tedford Tires.

They welcomed their first son, Ron, in 1946, and Steve followed in 1948. Mildred was a very active mom with her boys and other boys in the community and pushed them to explore and have fun---on the baseball field and wherever their adventures led them.

In the mid-50s they moved to North Carolina to be close to Stu’s family but after five weeks moved “home” to Fallon. As life would have it, the family packed up and moved to the Bay area in the mid-60s for Stu’s work. During that time, she took a job with Bank of America, which she loved. A couple of years later, life would bring them back home to Fallon…again. In those years, she worked for Deal & Miller and then All Season Homes, where she did the books and sold mobile homes to many people in the community. She retired but returned to work in 1992 for Bassham Furniture, where she did their books for several years. She was a lover of pencils and ledgers, so when the computer came in, she officially and permanently retired from work. 

While she worked hard, modeled, and instilled a strong work ethic in her loved ones, she played hard, too. Weekends were for fun and sharing with anybody who wanted to learn or come along. They were spent water-skiing, fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, shooting, motorcycle, then 4-wheeler riding. She and Stu loved being outside and exploring Nevada, rock collecting, playing pool, and wood cutting. At one time, they had the largest woodpile in the valley. If you were invited to their home, you signed her tablecloth “guest book.”  In fact, an ambulance attendant once was not allowed to wheel her out of the house until he signed the tablecloth. If you were lucky, at some time, you received a knit blanket, socks, or sweater from her.

Mildred was not a loud and boisterous person nor one to seek attention, but she had a magnetic personality. She was a great and wise conversationalist who was quick to smile and laugh. She loved a good joke and loved finding new adventures until the very end. She loved God with all her whole heart, her whole soul, and her whole mind. Her faith and hope in her Savior Jesus Christ alone. She proudly, protectively, and fiercely loved her family and friends.

If she could offer advice to someone, it would be these three things. First, seek Jesus. He will take you as you are, and He will never fail you. Second, love your family and friends. Spend time with them; work and “things” are replaceable, loved ones are not. Third, wear sunscreen.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved Stu, brother Mit, and grandson Tony. She is survived by her sons Ron (Nancy) and Steve (Michelle), grandchildren Mark (Natalie) Caffaratti, Kim Klenakis, Tim (Laurie) Ward, Sarah (Matt) Gill, Moriah and Hannah Ward, ten great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Her family has grown throughout the years as she is also blessed with numerous loved ones she has gathered who call her mom and Gram. 

The family would like to thank those who loved and cared for her at The Homestead and the staff at Banner Churchill Community Hospital. There are so many stories to tell and be heard. The family would love for you to share your stories. Please go to Facebook and join the group “Memories of Millie.”

If you would like to donate in her memory, please give to the Fallon Churchill Fire Department or Renown Children’s Hospital.