Oct.
13, 1921 - Nov. 17, 2009SOUTH BEND - Helen Best, beloved sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend passed from this life in the same way she lived, with dignity, class and love in her heart for everyone. Helen was born on October 13, 1921, to Lewis and Pruddie Tuttle in Honey Grove, Texas, "the sweetest little town in Texas " as she would love to tell you. She was the second child of six Tuttle children who left Texas and moved with her family to Durant, Oklahoma where she spent much of her childhood. She enjoyed telling her childhood stories of riding to a one room school house bareback on her favorite horse. She attended Murray College in Oklahoma and later worked for the Curtis Photography Studios in Oklahoma City. She met Thair Best in 1944 while he was doing his overseas pilot training at Will Rogers Air Force Base. Soon after their meeting, Thair was shipped off to Europe to fly for the Air Force in World War II. As so many other women did during that time, Helen stayed in contact with Thair through letters and waited for him to return at the wars end. On June 5, 1945, Helen and Thair were married in Pomeroy, Iowa, in Thair's boyhood home, with his parents Frank and Myrtle Best and his sister Helen in attendance. Their marriage led to a lifetime partnership that they shared for more than 64 years. Helen and Thair moved to the South Bend area in 1946 and began raising a family in 1947, with the birth of their son, Bruce. Brent was born in 1949 and then Bob in 1957. Helen spent most of the next 15 years raising the boys and maintaining and managing the family home. During those years it was a common sight to see Helen jumping up and down and cheering for her boys at their little league baseball games or their high school football games. She was always available to pile all the neighborhood kids into the station wagon for a day on the beach at Warren Dunes State park. In the late 1950's, Helen worked for the South Bend Water Works and became active in politics. She ran for public office twice, once for City Clerk of South Bend and once for County Clerk of St Joseph Co. In 1972, Helen joined the real estate firm of Cressey & Everertt and continued working with them for over 25 years. She retired in 1999 to become a full time wife, grandmother and a supreme chocolate brownie chef. Helen always had a warm, loving and open heart to everyone she met. She enjoyed playing bridge with her close friends for her entire life. Her relationships with her friends were long and meaningful and by example, she taught us the true meaning of unconditional love. Helen's (known as "Meme" by her family) greatest pleasure in her life was her family. She had a strong and loving relationship with her husband, her kids and her grandkids. She had a special bound and ability to relate to each family member as the unique individuals they are. She honored and loved them all for their uniqueness. Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Pruddie Tuttle, and her brothers, Leon and Robert Tuttle. She is survived by her husband Thair; her brothers, Donald and Ronald Tuttle, her sister, Elizabeth "Tibbie" Cole, her sons, Bruce and his wife Gie Best of Madison, WI , Brent and his wife, Mary Ann Best of Boulder, Co. and Bob Best of Charlotte, N.C. Helen has six grandchildren; Bowen Best, Brett Best, Victor Best, Brenda Best, Nicholas Best and Christina Best and two great grandchildren, Cadence Best and Colin Best. Helen's family would like to thank all the care givers that have contributed to her well being these last few months. A celebration of Helen's life is planned for Sat. November 28, at 1:00 PM at Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Rd., South Bend, In. Following the service, an open reception will be held at The Waterford at Edison Lakes, 1025 Park Pl., Mishawaka, In.