Richard Best

Long time Alaskan Richard James "Dick" Best, 84, died quietly in his home in Wasilla Alaska on Wednesday evening January 30th, 2013.

Richard was born in Missoula Montana on the 29th of September 1928 to Jasper and Lois Best. He left home at an early age working multiple odd jobs along the west coast. He served in both the United States Navy and Army. He was married to Dorothea Emilie Geiger on December 13th 1959. Dick and Thea resided in Montana where he worked as a logger. They moved to Alaska in 1963 where he worked as a Fuller brush salesman and then as an electrician. Dick was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Dick, an avid outdoorsman, loved hunting, fishing, berry picking, and gardening. He could often be found reloading ammunition and talking about guns. He was extremely social and talked with people wherever he went. Family members remember him being disappointed when he and Thea received their own postal box as it meant that he could no longer go down to the local post office to talk to people. He had an amazing sense of humor, always a story to tell and often a picture to accompany it.

Richard is survived by his wife Dorothea; his son and daughter-in-law Danny Ray and Connie Best; his daughter Kathy Majors, his daughter and son-in-law Ingrid and Sepp Katzenleuchter, his daughter and son-in-law Linda and Pat Marley, and his daughter and son-in-law Heidi and David Crawford; his siblings Hugh and Mike along with many grand children and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his siblings Norman and Mary Jane Noll and his oldest son Richard James "Jimmy" Jr.

Services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Stake Center located at 821 Dellwood Street, Wasilla Alaska on Friday February 8th, 2013, 2: 00 p.m. He will be buried in the Best Family Cemetery in Wasilla Alaska.

The man with seemingly infinite stories, laughs and photographs, Dick, will be missed by all who knew him.

Funeral arrangements were made through Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla.