Anne M Best

Anne Thomsen Best, age 90, of Mankato passed away January 23, 2006 at Grandview Good Samaritan Health Care Center of St. Peter, MN.

Celebration of life service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, January 26, 2006 at Christ The King Lutheran Church in Mankato with Pastor Donahue Sarff and Pastor John Petersen officiating. Interment will be in Woodland Hills Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday at Mankato Mortuary and 1 hour before the service at the church.

Anne Best was born December 21, 1915 to Peter and Bella (Hansen) Thomsen. She grew up on the family farm in the Indian Lake area of rural Mankato, where she attended Indian Lake Country School. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mankato. She was a housekeeper and a nanny in her late teen years. Anne was united in marriage with Delbert H. Best on September 17, 1937 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Mankato. They later became Charter members of Christ The King Lutheran Church where she served on the altar guild and other committees. She was a homemaker and Co-Owner of Best's Dairy serving the Mankato area for 25 years. Anne and Del were hosts to representatives of the World Press Institute from Belgium, Japan, Africa and Indonesia. They hosted Farm Youth from Chile on their family dairy farm. Anne was an active member of the community. She was presented with the Distinguished Service Award for her community service by the Mrs. Jaycees. She was very active in Farm Bureau and a 4-H Leader for the Peppy Wahoo 4-H Club. Anne enjoyed spending time with her family, wintering in Texas for 30 years and traveling extensively. She was an excellent seam stress and enjoyed crocheting, embroidery, and gardening. Del and Anne enjoyed their golden years at the lake.

Anne is survived by two daughters, Beverly Fitzloff and her husband, Charles of Mankato and Della Stoll and her husband, Walter of Austin, MN; seven grandchildren Carl (Kathy) Fitzloff, Clark (Sharon) Fitzloff, Craig Fitzloff, Connie (Rick) Long, Kathi (Chris) Larson, Brenda (Dick) Reeder, Cyndi (Jared) Jacobson; 12 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband, Delbert on Nov. 13, 2005; her parents; a sister; and five brothers; other relatives and friends.