Betsy (Peterson) Ward was born in Lordsburg, New Mexico in 1962. Yes, back in the dinosaur age, Lordsburg really had a hospital! She was raised in the Animas Valley and attended twelve years of school here. (There was no kindergarten in Animas at that time.) Betsy graduated from Animas High School as Valedictorian in 1981, after serving on the New Mexico State FFA officer team. Betsy attended college at New Mexico State University on a Presidential scholarship. She was on the NMSU horse judging team for two years until she met Ronnie Ward. They were married in 1983 and moved to Crownpoint, New Mexico where Ronnie taught Agriculture and Betsy served as Bookkeeper for the Crownpoint Public Schools. The couple moved back to Animas after one year and founded Ward’s Tire and Service. During this time, the couple elected to begin a family. Kasey was born in 1986 and Raynee followed in 1987. When Kasey and Raynee started to school, Betsy resumed her education at Western New Mexico University. In 1994, she graduated from Western New Mexico University with a teaching degree and was employed as a mid-school teacher in Animas that same year. Betsy has taught in the mid-school for several years and is currently teaching 5th & 6th grade PE & 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade History . She obtained a Masters Degree in Teaching from Grand Canyon University and has currently accumulated 45 additional hours. Betsy thoroughly enjoys teaching and learning. She treasures the time she spends with her husband and two lovely daughters. Betsy is proud to call Animas home.