Archie K. Best

He spent his last few days in good spirits, surrounded by family and loved ones. “A. K.,” as many knew him, was born on February 26, 1933 in Glidden, Iowa.

The elder of two sons of Kenneth and Malinda Best, he grew up on the family farm and went on to attend Drake University where he was a member of Phi Mu music fraternity and performed in big band style ensembles across the state until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1957. He graduated from Drake in 1959 with a Master’s degree in Music Education. It was during his college years that A.K. met the love of his life, Janet Gove. They married in 1956 and were together for 67 years until Jan’s passing in 2023.

Archie and his growing family lived in Des Moines, Iowa for a few years before moving to Alpena, Michigan in 1962 where he was the high school band teacher for 17 years. When he was not teaching, he was fly fishing and exploring trout streams with both his fly rod and his camera. He began tying flies in earnest and launched his business, A.K.’s

Fly Shoppe, selling dry flies to shops across the nation and eventually via online platforms.

In 1980, A.K. and his family moved to Boulder, Colorado, where his second career thrived as a production fly tyer,

author, speaker and fly fisherman. His books include: Production Fly Tying, Dying and Bleaching Natural Fly Tying Materials, A.K.’s Fly Box, The Best Flies of A.K., Advanced Fly Tying, plus many instructional videos and hundreds of magazine articles. He enjoyed traveling to fly tying symposiums across the U.S. and abroad, sharing his tips and

experience, and fishing new waters wherever he went.

A.K. was first and foremost a devoted family man. He instilled in his three daughters that family comes first. Those who were ever in his orbit would also know that he strove every day to make someone smile. While we miss his positive and effusive personality so very much, we take great comfort in the legacy he has left behind and that he is reunited with his love.

A.K. is survived by his three daughters, Suzanne Best Morgan (William) of Lone Tree, CO, Alecia Best Larson (Spencer) of Moraga, CA, Elizabeth Best Christensen (Jon) of Bozeman, MT; seven grandchildren, Nicholas Morgan (Laura), Kaitlyn Morgan Yonke (Brandon), Natalie Larson, Vanessa Larson Coffey (Luke), Mateo Larson, Ryan Christensen, Katherine Christensen; and three great-grandchildren, William and Sarah Morgan and Everly Coffey.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Community United Church of Christ in Boulder, CO (CUCC). In honor of the caring community A.K. found there, memorial donations may be made to CUCC Boulder, 2650 Table Mesa Dr, Boulder, CO 80305.