Nile Best

Born: September 27, 1923
Died: June 16, 2018

Nile C. Best, 94, died on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at the Canton Good Samaritan Center in Canton, SD. Funeral Services for Nile will be 10:00 AM Saturday, June 23, 2018 at George Boom Funeral Home & Crematory in Sioux Falls with visitation starting at 9:00 AM on Saturday. Interment with Military Honors will be at the Arlington City Cemetery.  

Nile Clarence Best was born September 27, 1923 near Henry SD to Clarence and Clara (Jaehn) Best. Nile was a 1941 graduate of Sioux Falls Washington High School. He served in the United States Army (European Theater) during WWII. He earned the Good Conduct and Presidential Unit Citation Award. He married Doris Mae Norgaard on April 30, 1950 on a farm in rural Brookings County, SD.

He worked with his father at Best Electric in and around Kingsbury County. Starting in 1956 he was an electrician for the Bureau of Reclamation and Western Area Power Administration, first working on construction of the Oahe Dam, then at Huron, and ultimately the Sioux Falls substation for many years. He retired in 1984 and lived in Sioux Falls. Nile rode his motorcycle to work every day except during winter (he just complained about the weather then). Nile enjoyed his vegetable garden, playing cards, jigsaw puzzles, bowling, and watching the Minnesota Twins baseball and Vikings.

Nile enjoyed gardening, playing cards, and gathering with family. He was a member of the American Legion (72 years), National Association of Retired Federal Employees, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (63 years).

Nile is survived by his sons Harlan (Diane) Best of Sioux Falls and Richard (Carol) Best of Rochester, MN; son-in-law Don Julius of Sioux Falls; grandchildren Jennifer, Matt, and Sarah Julius of Topeka, KS and Kim Minter of Rochester MN; great grandchildren Taylor Julius, Chloe and Emma Stone, and Anna Minter; sister Doris (Don) Swanson of Brookings; brothers-in-law Daryl (Phyllis) Norgaard of Badger, SD and Orlan (Gloria) Norgaard of Sioux Falls, as well as many close friends and relatives.  

Nile was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Doris. Also preceding him in death were daughter Sharon, brother and sister-in-law Worth and Mavis Best, brother-in-law Ray Norgaard and wife Eldah, and brother-in-law Leo Norgaard.