Earl was born on June 28, 1930, to Ira and Stella (Carter) Best and had one older brother, Warren. Earl grew up around Clemmons, Iowa. After graduating in 1948 from Clemmons High School, he enlisted in the army and served for two years in the Korean War in Infantry Basics and Engineering Basics. While on leave in Korea, Earl married Sylvia Marie Ankrum in 1951. They remained married just short of 70 years until her passing in 2021. Earl and Sylvia raised eight children during their life together.

During his life, Earl’s love of farming was both a source of income at times and a passionate hobby at others. He worked as a farm hand and sheared sheep for many area farms. Later in life, he had a small farm where he, Sylvia and many of their children worked to raise various livestock. For 27 years, he worked third shift at Fisher Controls. After “retiring” from Fishers, he took to driving delivery trucks for Marquart Concrete Company. He volunteered extensively later in life delivering meals for Hawkeye Valley on Aging and drove veterans to appointments for several years. He was also deeply committed to the church serving on the Property Committee, Men’s Group, Elim Retirees and Friends Luncheon and RSVP (Retired Seniors Volunteer Program). Earl spent countless hours quilting which became a passion in his later years. These quilts blessed not only his children’s and grandchildren’s homes but also were donated to Iowa River Hospice and Lutheran World Relief through Elim Lutheran Church.

Left to cherish his memory are his children Joyce (Owen) Heiserman of Des Moines, IA, Randy (Carol) Best of Yellville, AR, Kenney Best of Des Moines, IA, Janet Dady of Des Moines, IA, Kathy (Glen) Johnson, of LaCrosse, WI, Sandy (Nelson) Best-Balignasay, of Kennewick, WA, Lauire Scheiding, of Marshalltown, IA, and Jeff (Val) Best, of Wichita, KS., and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.