Ward Patrick Devlin

POLSON — Ward Devlin peacefully died of natural causes surrounded by his family at his home in Polson on Monday afternoon, Oct. 16, 2006.

Born on Feb. 21, 1920, Ward was the second-born of four boys to Neil and Jenny (Oxton) Devlin in Steele County, N.D.

His parents, brothers Neil, Jack and Jim preceded him in passing, as did his sisters-in-law Dorothy, Beverly, El Dora and El Dora's husband (and Ward's great pal) Vernon.

His beloved wife of 54 years, LaVere passed on Dec.28, 2000.

Ward and LaVere met when they were students at MSTC (Mayville State Teachers College) in Mayville, N.D. Ward graduated in the spring of '42.

He was stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Snelling in St. Paul, Minn.

After the service, Ward taught school at Hunter, N.D.; then at Bagley, Minn.

Ward and LaVere were married Aug. 12, 1946 in Fargo, N.D.

They had accepted teaching positions — along with brother Neil — in Tule Lake, Calif., where Ward and Neil taught high school and LaVere taught first grade.

Following the two-year stint in California, Ward and Neil accepted the positions in Polson that would complete their respective teaching careers. They established the Commerce and Art curricula at Polson High School in 1948.

Ward is survived by cousin Molly Sampson of Rialto, California; sisters-in-law Dolly Devlin, Michigan, N.D., and Gina Devlin, Polson; and children Greg, Charles, Thomas, JeNeil (Greg Grace), and Patrick,