Memorial services for Denis Best, 81, who passed away Saturday, October 26, 2024 at Edencrest of Sienna Hills in Ankeny, IA will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday November 9 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Indianola, with burial of cremains following in the Indianola I.O.O.F Cemetery.

Denis Best grew up in the western Iowa town of Glidden, where he attended Glidden-Ralston Junior Senior Highschool until graduation in 1961, later moving to Des Moines, Iowa to attend Drake University, where he graduated with a music education degree in 1965. He proceeded to teach band for grades 4-12 at Melcher-Dallas from 1965 to 1971, excluding one year where he "ran away" with the circus to play drums in Puerto Rico. He would later teach band for grades 5-6 and jazz band for grades 9-12 at Indianola Community Schools from 1971-1977. While teaching at Indianola, his jazz band won the Class A State Championships, which was a feather in his cap that he loved talking about.  In 1979, he started working at Frank Rieman Music, where he worked as a road representative, calling on band and orchestra directors across south and central Iowa until his retirement in 2009.

Denis married Raelene Best at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Indianola, in 1979, and lived in Indianola until 2022, when he moved into Rock Creek Senior Living in Ankeny, IA, and then to Edencrest at Sienna Hills in Ankeny, IA in 2023. He is survived by his children David Best, married to Heidi Yang, both of Des Moines, IA, Sara, married to Chris Perkins and granddaughters Natalia and Elena Garcia, of Ankeny, IA. He is also survived by his brother Archie "AK" Best, of Boulder, CO. He was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth (1991) and Malinda (1986), and wife Raelene (2013.)

Denis had a long career as a musician, beginning at age 15 playing drums with the Roger Loots Orchestra playing in dance halls around Carroll, IA, and later including venues such as the Calgary Stampede, KRNT Radio Theater in Des Moines, groups such as the Des Moines Symphony and Des Moines Municipal Band, as well as behind entertainers such as Wayne Newton, Al Hirt, Barbara & Jo Anne Castle, and Henny Youngman. Together with himself on bass guitar and his wife Raelene on keyboard they formed the Best Little Country Band in 1980, which was disbanded in 1989. It would later reform as the Best Family Band, where he played bass alongside his wife Raelene on keyboard and guitar, his son David on drums, and his daughter Sara on fiddle, which played at the National Balloon Classic, Bluegrass Tuesdays, and other community events. He would later play bass and drums with local groups lead by Maurice "Maury" Goode and Gaylin Sudik. Many of his former students have gone on to successful careers.

During his 30 years with Rieman Music, Denis called on over 90 band and orchestra teachers across south and central Iowa, as well as helped demonstrate musical instruments to over 20,000 students interested in joining band or orchestra. During this time, he frequently shared that his favorite moments were watching a child's face light up as they played their first few notes on an instrument and realize they had found something they loved.

In his retirement, his favorite hobbies were taking care of his grandchildren, Natalia and Elena, who he would take on small adventures to places like Lake Ahquabi or out for breakfast. He continued playing music with different groups, including drumming for the Praise Raisers at Redeemer for several years, with his daughter Sara. Through his entire life, Denis was known to those around him as kind, caring, and thoughtful. Denis was raised and lived as Lutheran, and was deeply faithful throughout his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Denny Best Keep Playing Fund through the Indianola Music Boosters. During his time working for Rieman's, Denis described his most heartbreaking moments as when he had to repossess a rental instrument when families could no longer afford to pay the rental fees. This fund seeks to help prevent that from happening by paying those fees so kids can keep playing. Checks may be written out to "Indianola Music Boosters" with "Denny Best Memorial," in the memo line & sent to P.O. Box 9, Indianola, IA 50125, or sent via Venmo to: @Sara-Best-21, with a note of "Denny Best Memorial." (Last 4 of phone number is 2340)