Sally Ward

Sally Ward passed away on November 16, leaving a legacy of over 3,000 watercolors and oils in homes, businesses, galleries, public buildings and private collections all over the world. She enjoyed a 30-year career in the Palm Springs, Calif. area which she depicted as it was prior to mid-20th-century commercial and residential development. Sally studied art with some of America's great masters, including Eliot O'Hara, George Post, and Rex Brandt. During the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle, Sally's work was displayed in the Encyclopedia Britannica exhibit, resulting in increased exposure and major sales. In the mid-1960s, Sally was part of a group of five northwest artists who tested their skills on a plein aire road trip to southwestern deserts, resulting in a highly successfully Seattle show in which every single painting completed by the individual artists found buyers. Sally's "love affair" with the deserts and mountains of the Southwest was off to a great start. Sally was born in Kalispell, Montana on June 2, 1909, during the presidency of William Howard Taft, and witnessed much of the history of frontier America. As an artist of the mid-20th century, she chronicled the remnants of the Old West of Montana, Idaho and north-central Washington State where she lived for many years. She relocated with her husband, Austin L. Ward, to Cathedral City in 1973. Austin died in 1974. Thelma was born to Maurice Rasmussen and Annie Fletten Rasmussen in Kalispell, Montana in 1909 and was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Harry Rasmussen (Eva) from Okanogan, Washingon; Evelyn Freeland (Floyd), of Couer d'Alene, Idaho; Mildred Mehl (Ed) Wenatchee, Washington; and Grace Bergman Siemons, Wenatchee, Washington; by her beloved niece, Marilyn Stephens, and by her husband, Austin Ward. She leaves a daughter, Susan Ward, of Tucson, Arizona, her nieces and nephews Ken Rasmussen (Eileen)of Powell Butte, Oregon; Roger Mehl (Anne) of Eugene, Oregon; Marlene Rasmussen Larson (Glen) of Chattaroy, Washingon; Gary Freeland (Judy of Bailey Colorado; Nancy Minor (Ed) of Post Falls, Idaho; Jim Freeland (Frona) of Loveland, Colorado; Doug Mehl (Cheryl) of Castle Rock, Colorado, and her nephew of the heart, Terry Stephens of Palm Desert, California, and great and great-great nieces and nephews. Sally will be laid to rest next to her husband, Austin, in East Wenatchee, Washington. At Sally's request, no funeral will be held, but a display of her art and a party will be held in Tucson, Arizona early in 2011. Details will be available at saward1@juno.com. Sally's work is on display at Classic Consignments, Palm Desert, and through Sally Ward, Artist, LLC, at saward1@juno.com.
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