Dave Best

5/12/1933 — 1/26/2024

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Dave Dill Best passed away Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, from complications of leukemia. He dealt with his illness on his own terms. He was born outside of Weippe on May 12, 1933, to Jack and Bertha Best.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Gale Lee Best; infant siblings Mae Jones and Jack Best; adult siblings William Droschkey and Merna Henry. He is survived by his ex-wife, Joyce Best; daughters and sons-in-law Sharon and Donald Judd, and Elaine and Brian Casteel; grandchildren Matthew Judd, Brett and Erika Judd, and Scott Judd; great-grandchildren, William Judd and Eleanor Judd.

He proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1950 to 1954. He married Joyce Best on July 14, 1952, in Omaha, Neb. Their marriage ended in divorce, but they remained close friends until his death.

He grew up at Best Corner Road in the Dent area. He began his logging career at age 8, horse logging with his father. He was tagged with the nickname “Black Dave” early in his career. He spent his lifetime trying to design a truck that would pull the best, go the fastest and safely had the biggest load.

Our favorite story happened in Clarkia. Dad got to the landing with a particularly large load. Frank Stoddard, the weight master, was weighing trucks and issuing overweight tickets. Dad thought he would just out wait Frank by parking on the Clarkia landing. Frank sent word back to dad. He said, “Tell Dave I have a Thermos of coffee, a full lunch box and my sleeping bag.” Frank said, “If Dave thinks he is hiding that load on the landing, he is mistaken. It is like trying to hide a camel in a pack of Pekingese.”

Dad hauled logs into his 80s. He proudly stilled owned a horse and cattle at 90. He had a full life filled with many, many stories. The last thing he said to us was he wished he could climb back in a truck and haul one more load.

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