Lucy Elizabeth Custer

Lucy Elizabeth Custer (Young) breathed her last earthly breath on April 20, 2025, passing into the waiting, welcoming arms of her personal Savior and Lord Jesus.

She was born on the small family farm on Nicoli Road in Goble, Oregon, on December 8, 1930, joining two older brothers. She ended up being the only girl, as she was followed by two younger brothers, completing the family. She learned to enjoy farm life with the animals, gardens, fruit trees, and neighborhood friends. She attended school in Deer Island and St. Helens from first to eighth grade in a two room school, then St. Helens High School, going to the junior year before getting married to Charles Heckathorn. They had Dorothy Elizabeth in 1949. It was a rocky marriage that ended. She took a job watching a family’s children on 3rd Ave. During a birthday party, she met Sigmund Custer. They dated for 6 weeks and announced their engagement while helping having for Lucy’s uncle. They married June 14, 1950 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Longview. They set up a home life at Ragland Road in West Longview. Children soon followed, Wanda June on June 23, 1951, Judy Ann on April 23, 1953, and David Allen on June 23, 1955. After this, they moved to North 3rd in West Kelso to be close to doctors, the hospital, and Fibre, where Sig worked. Mildred Eileen was born October 17, 1957 and Michael Lee October 6, 1959. They attended church at Fisher’s Lane Church of God, where Lucy helped in making homemade doughnuts and cinnamon rolls, which they sold to the mills. She was also involved in the Christmas and Easter programs, and was a pretty good seamstress. Actually, she was always involved in church, starting at Shilo Basin, then Abernathy Assembly, a church at Liberty Theatre, Bethel Temple, Fisher’s Lane, Industrial Way 33rd Ave Church of God, then lastly, Rivers of Joy. She always attended a church, even on vacations. From Sigmund’s nephew’s Catholic church to Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Assembly or Church of God. She loved her Savior. She always joined in the singing even though she couldn’t carry a tune.

After marriage, she learned to cook and bake as before she admitted barely knowing how to boil water. She learned quickly, having a family of 8 and always family friends from church. I remember on Saturdays she would bake enough for the week, including homemade, from scratch, bread and rolls, cinnamon rolls, cookies, pies, and cakes. Not all every time, but always bread. Later, she obtained a recipe for sourdough. She became known as the Muffin Lady, as she would make dozens to give to neighbors. Adults who see her now were kids then, and they still recognize her as the Muffin Lady.

She took over my (David) paper route when I began attending LCC. She was well known throughout West Kelso, even being named Carrier of the Month. She worked at the Brass Rail Restaurant as a dishwasher for a couple of years.

Lucy never wanted her name in Lights or to be well known for anything but being a mom. Was she good at it? Depends on who you ask and when. She was successful at it. Mom to 6, grandmother to 12, great grandmother to 16, and great-great grandmother to 10. Quite the family.

Lucy loved hats, owning dozens and wearing them all. She also loved flowers, roses and lilies being her favorite, but liked them all. Holidays were special to her, and Christmas and Easter were tops. But 4th of July was also enjoyed much. Fireworks at the lake for many years. Although she never drove, she enjoyed traveling, mostly to North Dakota to visit Sigmund’s family, but even just Sunday drives after church was looked forward to. Her greatest adventure was in 1994 when she visited 13 western states and all the western National Parks from the Craters of the Moon in Idaho to the Grand Canyon and all in Utah and Colorado. The only time out of the country was a visit to Vancouver, Canada, to visit Buchart Gardens. A beautiful sight. Her favorite color was red, as it reminded her of the blood of Jesus and of love. She also liked blue, collected teddy bears, she loved word search, and reading books, and signs and trees long the road. “Wow, look at that tree!”

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and May Young, brothers Ralph, Harve, Jack, and Phil, her husband of 43 years, Sigmund, daughters Dorothy, Wanda, grandchildren Aaron and Kaylee, and many friends and neighbors. She is survived by daughters Judy Ridenour (Charles), Mildred Bartholf (Terry), sons David (Judy), and Mike (Trudy), all of Kelso, grandchildren Dianna, David, Dana, Kimberly, Robert, James, Niki, Terry, Leslie, Zac, Ashley, Hailey, Paige, Hayvin, Austin, Isaiah, Kaden, Axton, Himen, Harrison, great grandchildren Kenna, Gage, Ethan, Carter, Skyler, Gabe, Emmettee, Jake, Hank, and Dylan.

Mom loved to sing, although she couldn’t. She’d belt out some old song from the 1930’s or 40’s like “The Band Played On” or “Tea for Two.” She should have been an arborist, as she loved trees, especially tall, full, old ones. “Look at that one, see how tall it is? I’ll bet that one is a climber. Wow.”

She also loved music. She enjoyed the local symphony or school band or orchestra concerts.

So if you want to honor her memory, make some muffins, go for a ride, plant a tree, or support your local musicians.

Most of all she loved her family, even though times weren’t always peaceful or great, her love never faded.