McCook Daily Gazette, McCook, NE, Jan. 2001

ELLWOOD ROBERT BEST

Ellwood Robert Best, 77, died Sunday (Dec. 31, 2000) at Bishop Clarkson Hospital, Omaha, NE.

He was born June 15, 1923, in Omaha, to Henry and Ila Maude (Briggs) Best. When he was 14, the family moved to McCook, NE where he graduated from McCook High School. He entered the US Army serving during World War II.

On June 16, 1946 he married Lillian Hoff in McCook and the couple spent their married lives in McCook. He worked as a brakeman for the CB & Q Railroad until retiring in 1988. For many years he was a part of the Swing City Nine and 6 and 34 dance bands. He also served in the army as a musician during the Korean Conflict.

He was a member of the First Congregational Church, the McCook Masonic Lodge 135 AF & AM, all Masonic bodies in McCook and the Tehema Western Shrine, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the McCook Elks Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Lillian Dunbar.

Survivors include his wife, Lillian Best of McCook, two sons, Robert Best and wife, Tish, of Baltimore, MD; Scott Best and his wife, Joanna, of Erie, CO; two daughters, Debra Brandt and husband, Gary, of Lincoln, and Jill Royse and Barry Ellis of McCook; one sister, Ila Stramel of Redwood Falls, MN, and 11 grandchildren.

Services will be Friday, 10:30 a.m. at the First Congregational Church in McCook with the Rev. Rod Church officiating. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook. Friends may call at the Herrmann Funeral Home of McCook. Memorials are being accepted in his name. Herrmann Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of arrangements.