“Captain Wardo” has left the dock for that big fishing pond above to continue his hunt for a Trophy Walleye. Ward Wilson Brink was born February 16, 1940 in Fresno, California and was immediately welcomed into the arms of his adoptive parents Albert and Ivanette (Wilson) Brink. He grew up in St. Hilaire, was baptized and confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church, went to grade school in St. Hilaire and graduated from Lincoln High in Thief River Falls with the class of 1958. He took auto mechanics and small engine classes at the AVTI while also working with his dad in the Brink Apiary honeybee business and helping Maurice and Doug Steiger build their big green tractors.

He worked in Minneapolis for a while then came home to join Arctic Cat when it was starting. That became his life-long career path finally retiring in 2005 as part of the Service and Warranty Division alongside his partner and best friend Dean Lawrenz. He was very popular with his dealers, helping them keep their customers' snowmobiles up and running. He traveled extensively with Dean and Greg Harris putting on service schools for those dealers when a new batch of sleds was about to be introduced.

In the early years of Arctic Cat he was part of a team of snowmobilers who ran what was then called the "Winnipeg 500," racing all the way to St. Paul for the start of the St. Paul Winter Ice Festival, and he completed the run every year.

Ward was an avid bowler, hunter and anything Arctic Cat, but fishing was his most important "job" so when he retired he and Mare built a house in the woods behind Cyrus Resort at Baudette, close to Lake of the Woods, so Ward could fish every day if the wind wasn't blowing up huge waves. He also followed the Twins, Vikings, Wild, Timberwolves, Lynx and Gophers, cheering when they won and screaming at the TV when they lost.

After a fall that shattered a hip in January of 2022, Ward ended up a resident of the LakeWood Care Center in Baudette when dementia took hold of his life. He made many friends there and residents and staff just loved him. He had established a wide circle of fishing buddies who really missed meeting him for Happy Hour at Cyrus Resort after spending the day on the lake.

Ward and Mare returned to Thief River Falls in 2025 to be closer to family and Ward became a resident at Oakland Park Communities home. Staff there fell in love with him and took excellent care of him, especially Stacey who took him to Hahn deer camp at Fourtown during hunting season and out and about for an occasional beer.

Ward passed away on July 2, 2026 at Oakland Park Communities Home, leaving behind his wife Marilyn; these who called him “Pops”-son Bruce (Sandy); daughters Debbie (Kerry) Rhoan and Tami (Tony) Gould; stepsons Jeff (Connie) Nelson, Greg Nelson, Bryan (Jodi) Nelson; grandson Kameron Rhoan; Granddaughters Amanda and Gracie Gould; brother-in-law Ron (Corine) Dargus; step-grandkids Brett (Lauren), Shawna (Matt), Alyssa (Spencer), Jenny (Pete), Sean, Tiffany, Scott, Jessica (Mike), Rex, Kyri (Shawn), Layne (Anna), Tice, Karla's girls Mandy (Adam) and Kassi, Trevor (Danielle), and niece Brittani; numerous great-grandkids and fishing buddies.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Phillip, mother of his kids Carol, granddaughter Kelli Rhoan, in-laws Herman and Opal Dargus, special stepdaughter Karla Sparby, stepson Steve Nelson, nephew Sean Dargus, best friend and fishing buddy Dean Lawrenz, lap kitty Sassy, and many fishing and snowmobiling friends.

No services are planned per Ward's wishes. His ashes will be placed in the arms of his parents at Riverside Cemetery, St. Hilaire, in a private family burial.

A celebration of Ward's life will be held at the Legion in Thief River Falls on July 25 from 1:00–4:00 PM so Ward's friends can come hoist a beer in his memory.

Special thank you to LakeWood Care Center and Oakland Park staffs for their excellent care and attention, Hospice, Johnson Funeral Service and to Greg Harris, Gary Laidley and Terry Vant Hof, and others we don’t know about, for their many visits.

Cards and memorials can be sent to Ward's family at Johnson Funeral Home, 420 South LaBree Avenue, Thief River Falls, MN 56701, or brought to the Legion when you come to celebrate your friendship with Ward over the years. You all were very special to him. Thank you for being his friend.