Gerald Best

Gerald Logan Best, age 66 of Wheaton, MN passed away Tuesday, December 19, 2017 in Eagan, MN with family members at his side.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, December 30, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Rev. Ken Bowman officiating. Music will be provided by Denny Johnson.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 29, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton.

Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. Honorary Pallbearers will be Gerald "Gerry" Siltman, Chuck Fell, James "OJ" Osterman, William "Bill" Schmitz, Rod Beyer, Paul Sprengeler, the Wheaton Fire Department, and his lifelong military buddies James LaBar and John Roy.

Gerald "Gerry" Best was born December 28, 1950 in Breckenridge, MN at Saint Francis Hospital to Roger and Vlasta "Vel" Best. He was baptized July 1, 1951 at the Methodist Church in Lidgerwood, ND and confirmed on May, 8, 1966 at the Hope Lutheran Church in Wheaton.

Gerald lived in both Lidgerwood and Hankinson, ND before his family settled in Wheaton where he graduated with honors from Wheaton High School in 1969. Following high school, Gerald enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served from 1969 to 1972. He was honorably discharged in 1972 but served in the Marine Corps Reserves for another year and the North Dakota National Guard for an additional thirteen years.

On June 30, 1973, he was united in marriage to Elayne Goodwalt. Gerald and Elayne made their home in Wheaton where they raised their family. Gerald spent many years operating Best Body Shop and later renewed his adolescent fondness for farming working for RDR Farms, Inc. He was active in the community serving for twenty-five years with the Wheaton Fire Department; several as Chief, he held the position of American Legion Post Commander, Scoutmaster, and he was a longtime member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Gerald enjoyed all things automotive, military history, the coffee table at the Corner Cafe, winters in Arizona, reading, western films and spending time with his eight grandchildren. He will be remembered for his hearty laugh and his mischievous grin.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Elayne; mother Vlasta Best of Wheaton, MN; children: Jason (Wendy) Best of Clarkfield, MN, Jeremy (Emily) Best of Minneapolis, MN, Renee (Albert) Nelson of Apple Valley, MN, and Ryan (Ashley) Best of Elizabeth, MN; grandchildren: Kylie, Isabelle, Autumn, Lauren, Adrienne, Elizabeth, Caiden, and Alexis; siblings: Marvin (Mary) Best of Albuquerque, NM, Mike Best of Phoenix, AZ, Gary (Dawn) Best of Champlin, MN, and Annette (finance Jim Stanley) Best of Hoffman, MN; sister-in-law Evelyn (Ray) Raguse of Alexandria, MN, and sister-in-law Evonne (Leroy) Anderson of Alexandria, MN; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Gerald was preceded in death by his father Roger, an infant sister Kathleen, parents-in-law Sam and Rosella Goodwalt and a brother-in-law Elvin Goodwalt.