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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Best, Marietta

BEST, Marietta Marietta (Blakeslee) Best was born September 8, 1914, in Livingston, MT to Glen Byron and Sarah May Trowbridge Blakeslee.

She graduated from Park County High School and attended Montana State Normal College in Dillon, MT.

Her first teaching position was a rural school near Livingston.

She had four students in four grades.

The winter was very severe, 46 degrees below zero.

After two years she accepted a second grade class in Sydney, MT.

After three years she returned to Livingston and taught second and third grades for seven years.

In 1949 she moved to Spokane, WA and attended Kelsey-Baird secretarial school and was then employed by Carnation Fresh Milk and Ice Cream as sales secretary for 20 years.

She married Clarence Best on October 20, 1953.

They were married for 46 years.

After retiring from Carnation, Marietta attended Spokane Community College and was employed at St. Luke’s Hospital as a part-time dietetic assistant for nine years.

After the death of her husband in 1999, she moved to Lilac Plaza Retirement Community where she resided for 13 years.

She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two younger brothers, Russell Glen and Robert Franklin, and brother-in-law Wayne Best.

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Hazel Blakeslee of Mount Vernon, WA, niece Julie Blakeslee and husband Doug and their daughter Skye of Seattle, WA.

Also by her nephew Don Blakeslee and wife Susan, their daughters Carrie and Katie and husband Cory of Minnesota, and brother-in-law Glade Best, sister-in-law Clara Best and several nieces and nephews.

Also by her beloved, adopted daughter, Judy Ellis, and loyal friends, Caroline Kloetsch and Aurelia Richey.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Marietta’s memory to the Hospice of Spokane, PO Box 2215, Spokane WA 99210.

A memorial service will be held at Lilac Plaza, 7007 N. Wiscomb Street, Spokane, WA on May 3, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.