Delbert Best

Delbert Harvey Best age, 89 of Mankato, passed away Sunday, November 13, 2005 at Grandview Good Samaritan Health Care Center in St. Peter.

Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday November 17, 2005 at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Mankato with Pastor Donohue Sarff and Rev. John Peterson officiating. Interment will be in Woodland Hills Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4 " 6 p.m. Wednesday at Mankato Mortuary and continues one hour before services at the church on Thursday.

Delbert was born February 2, 1916 to Harvey and Minnie (Syck) Best in Mankato. He grew up on the family farm in Lime Township and was involved in 4-H, showing pure breed Guernsey cattle, winning a trip to National 4-H Club Congress. Del attended grade school at the Country School located on the corner of their farm and was in the class of 1935 at Mankato High School. He farmed with his father and later they established Bests Dairy. He was united in marriage with Anne M. Thomsen on September 17, 1937 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and later a Charter member of Christ the King Lutheran Church where he served on the church council.

Del was the owner of Bests Dairy serving the Mankato area with deliveries to homes, stores, schools, and other business places for 25 years. Delbert and Anne were hosts to representatives of The World Press Institute from Belgium, Japan, Africa, and Indonesia. They hosted International Farm Youth from Chile. The dairy was sold to Oak Grove Dairy of Norwood, MN in 1964. Del continued farming and has been a Farm Bureau member since 1920. After serving as an officer in the local, county, and State Farm Bureau and holding offices for the board of directors, he was honored with a lifetime membership in Farm Bureau. He was also a member of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Service Company Board of Directors.

Del was very active in the community. He received the Distinguished Service Award in 1951 for Outstanding Community Service from the Junior and Senior Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Rehabilitation Center board of directors. He was a 4 " H Leader and received the 4 " H Alumni Award. He has been a member of the Masons, in the I.O.O. F. Lodge, Production Credit Advisory committee, Mankato Fair Association, MN Dairy Council, Kiwanis Club, and others.

Del enjoyed spending time with his family, wintering in Texas for 30 years and traveling extensively. He collected antiques and enjoyed refinishing them. Del and Anne enjoyed their golden years at the lake.

Del is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Anne. They recently celebrated their 68th anniversary. Also 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 (Jarad) Jacobson; 12 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, and other relatives.