Ward, born in Antlers, OK, and his wife Faye, have lived extensively across the U.S. and in Tanzania due to their family and work circumstances. They have four educated children and 17 grandchildren. Ward, who holds an M.S. in Organizational Leadership and an M.Div. in Ministerial Leadership, retired after 50 years in ministry and 14.5 years as a hospital/hospice chaplain. His varied work experience also includes direct sales and a decade in real estate.

Ward has traveled to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Greece, and Europe for religious education. The couple settled in Lewistown, Montana, in 1987 and returned permanently in 2020, loving the state's beauty, community, and outdoor activities. They plan to spend their remaining years there, including celebrating their 54th wedding anniversary in 2024 and motorcycling. Recently, they reactivated their real estate broker licenses and joined Clearwater Properties, eager to use their 17 years of combined experience to serve clients in Montana.