Gail Best

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho - Gail Best, 76, passed away peacefully at home in Mountain Home, on Nov. 14, 2018, following an illness. A memorial service will be held on Friday, Nov. 30, at 10 a.m. at Rost Funeral Home in Mountain Home.

Gail was born on July 2, 1942, to Nels Simonson and LaVerne Saari in Wakefield, Mich. She grew up next door to the man she would later marry. Gail graduated from Wakefield High School in 1960 and attended Gogebic Community College. She married Donald Best on Dec. 31, 1963. They were married for 51 years until his passing in 2015.

Together, they had one daughter, Dawn, and the family enjoyed traveling all over the world as an Air Force family. Between assignments, they made many happy memories hunting and fishing at the family cottage at Lake Pardee. They settled in Mountain Home in 1985. Gail worked for Elmore County for 20 years, first in the Assessor's office, and later was elected and served as the County Clerk until her retirement in 2006.

Gail loved politics and spent many fun times campaigning with her dear friends, Donna Alger and Karen Schindele. She was involved in many organizations throughout the years and served on several boards including the Mountain Home Senior Center, Elmore County Democrats, and Grace Lutheran Church. She was very proud of her Finnish heritage and a founding member of the local Daughters of Norway chapter.

In later years, she loved dressing up and having fun with her Red Hat group. Gail's greatest joy was her granddaughter, Izzy, who she spent much of her time playing, cooking, coloring and dancing with over the past seven years. The Best girls loved going on annual trips to Stanley and the Oregon Coast.

Gail is survived by her daughter, Dawn (Dean), and granddaughter, Isabella, of Mountain Home. She is also survived by nephew, Aaron (Patti); sisters-in-laws, Betty Best, of Wakefield, Mich., and Bobbi Jo Gamache; and great-niece and great-nephew, Casey (Cole) LaBeske and Tyler (Megan) Paynter, in Michigan. She was preceded in death by husband, Donald; her parents; in-laws, Charles and Adele Best; nephew, Lee Paynter; brother, Gary; and her beloved aunt, Elsie Koski.

Gail was laid to rest next to husband, Donald, at Mountain View Cemetery, Mountain Home, Idaho, on Nov. 16. Memorial contributions can be made in Gail's name to the Mountain Home Senior Citizens Center Endowment Fund, 1000 North Third East, or the Grace Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, 2422 American Legion Blvd., both in Mountain Home, ID 83647.

The family would like to thank the staff at Desert Sage and Treasure Valley Hospice for their compassionate and professional care. We would also like to thank Gail's wonderful neighbors and friends for all their help and support which allowed her to continue living independently the past couple years.