Obituary of Delores L. Best-Erickson

Delores Lorraine (Scoggin) Best Erickson, age 93 passed away peacefully early Saturday morning, March 23, 2024 at her home in Zion Illinois.

Delores was born June 25, 1930 in Zion Illinois, One of seven children to Elmer and Edith (Cunningham) Scoggin. Delores grew up in Zion, and as a child loved roller-skating, and going to the movies. She would often tell her stories of how she would fall and scrape her knees up so many times, only to get up and skate some more.  She loved going to the movies, loving her movie popcorn always adding that extra salt.

Delores married William H. Best on December 24, 1948, with whom she was blessed with seven children, (four boys and three girls), with a houseful, they moved from North Chicago to Carpentersville/Dundee area, where they lived for a number of years before moving back to Waukegan area. Delores worked at Waukegan public schools for the handicapped, before eventually being employed at Victory Memorial Hospital until she retired in 1993.

Upon retirement she relocated to Sister Bay, Wisconsin, to be closer to her sisters who relocated there. She loved Door County, enjoyed long walks, visiting with her sisters, baking, and enjoyed the summers when her children would come to stay for a while. She loved antiques and worked at Chelsea‘s Antique store, among a few other places in Sister Bay where she was always busy. After some time in Sister Bay, she met Harry Erickson and remarried. Delores and Harry were members of the first Baptist Church in Sister Bay and well respected within the community.  

After Harry’s passing Delores decided to move back to Illinois to be closer to family. She enjoyed spending time with her family, and enjoyed everything from knitting quilts to baking and cooking. She would make the best pumpkin bread, lemon bread and chocolate balls in the area… Not to mention her coleslaw every Thanksgiving! … So many good recipes… She also did Swedish weaving and knitting… Beautiful blankets - all handmade.  She helped everyone as much as she was able to and never could turn away those in need.

Delores is survived by her children, Susan Biederer (Jim Zingales) of Elgin, Illinois, David Best of Hot Springs ,Arkansas, Cindi (Ed) Lasiowski of Zion, Illinois, Julie Warczak of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Mark Best of Zion, Illinois, and numerous grandchildren , great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. She is further survived by her sisters, Lois Scoggin of Sister Bay, Shirley, (Al) Weinstein of Stevensville, Michigan and Edith (Ray) Cain of Red Bay, Alabama , her Brother Elmer Scoggin of Beach, Park, Illinois, her brother-in-law, andWilliam Olsen of Sister Bay, Wisconsin, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her Mother Edith Cunningham Scoggin, her Father, Elmer S.  Scoggin,  her Grandmother, Ethyl Musser Cunningham. Her husband , William H. Best, her two sons, Richard A. Best and Bruce L. Best., her daughter-in-law, Linda O. Best , her brother and sister-in-law, William and Bonnie Scoggin,  her sister Betsy Olsen, her two sister-in-laws, Dorothy Vogel, and Sandy Scoggin, and her  second husband, Harry Erickson.

Visitation will be held on Thursday April 4, 2024 at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan road, Zion, IL 60099, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. with Services to directly follow at 7:00p.m.. Burial will take place April 5, 2024 at 12:00p.m. at Bluff City Cemetery, 945 Bluff City Blvd, Elgin, IL 60120.