Genevieve "Jenny" K. Best

Genevieve K. “Jenny” Best, 90 of Rolette formerly of Wahpeton, ND died on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at the Rolette Community Care Center, Rolette, ND. Funeral Services for Jenny will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Valle Lutheran Church, Rolette. Rev. John Hesford will officiate and burial will be in the Hillside Memorial Cemetery, Walhalla, ND in the spring. A Memorial Service will also be held in Wahpeton in the spring. Visitation will be held on Saturday at the church beginning at 9:00 a.m. until time of service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Jenny will be her grandchildren, Kurt Mehlhoff, Todd Mehlhoff, Peter Best, Carmen Best and Kevin Best. Honorary Bearers especially chosen by Jenny several years ago. Gerald and Cindy Beck, Woody and Connie Caspers, Dr Terry and Mary Boldingh, Dr. Roger Meisner, Dr. Charles Lindberg, Dr. Tim Matz, Dr. Gene Porter and Martha Manikowske. Genevieve Kathleen Hamilton, fourth child of Charles and Ella (Hendrickson) Hamilton was born on June 20, 1920 at home in Walsh Township, Pierce County, rural Rugby, ND. She attended Country School Hendrickson #3 for 8 years then Rugby High School, graduating with the class of 1938. Jenny continued her education at North Dakota State University Agricultural College in Fargo, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics Education and a Minor in Physical Education. Jenny’s first job was at Waseca, Minnesota as an assistant Home Extension Agent and later she was the Home Agent in Windom, Minnesota. Jenny was united in marriage to Lloyd G. Best on February 27, 1944 at Moorhead, Minnesota. They made their home in McCook, Nebraska where Jenny worked as a file clerk at the Air Base during World War II. Jenny and Lloyd moved to Fort Collins, Colorado from 1945 to 1950. While in Colorado she worked at Colorado State University in the Home Economics Department and the High Altitude Research Lab. Their son, Lyle, was born there. They lived for a year at Grants Pass, Oregon then moved to Wahpeton in 1951 and Jenny worked for the Dakota Veterinary Hospital. Wahpeton is where they made their home through the years and raised their two children after the birth of their daughter, Janice. Lloyd passed away September 30, 1997. She continued living in Wahpeton until moving to the Haaland Home in Rugby in 2005; and then to the Rolette Community Care Center in 2010. Jenny was a member of the Congregational Church and Homemakers Club in Wahpeton. She served as a 4-H Leader and also a Girl Scout and Cub Scout Leader. She was a member of both the National and North Dakota Veterinary Medical Auxiliarys and the Quilters Guild of North Dakota. The family hosted American Field Service Students, Teppitoon “Ted” Srisawat of Thailand and Nilgün Celebí of Turkey. Jenny’s passions were many, but especially quilting and in later years the Minnesota Twins. She was very creative and a talented artist who enjoyed and dabbled in many forms of art. In her younger days, she was quite athletic and a track star. Jenny is survived by her children, Lyle Best and his wife Susan of Rolette, ND and Janice Mehlhoff of St. Paul, Minnesota; grandchildren, Peter (Vawnita) Best, Watford City, ND, Carmen (Salifou) Best, Albany, California, Kevin (Mary) Best, Rosemount, MN, Kurt (Marie) Mehlhoff and Todd (Anna) Mehlhoff all of Minneapolis; great grandchildren, Kyle Best; Farida and Sara Salifou; Lindsay Best; Abigail, Sophia and Thomas Mehlhoff; Magnus and Oskar Mehlhoff. Jenny was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd; son-in-law, Tom Mehlhoff; brothers, Richard and Clinton Hamilton and sister, Liberty Stempson.