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Custer -- George E. Custer, a highly respected member of the Albuquerque community, peacefully passed away on Monday, April 12, 1999, at the age of 91. George was born in Nebraska City, NE on December 30, 1907, the son of Ellis and Marie Pfann Custer. After attending high school in Nebraska City, he moved to Texas, where he was the assistant manager of Winburn Airfield, now Love Field and studied law at Jefferson University. In 1933, he moved to New Mexico, ultimately taking a position with the New Mexico State Employment Security Commission (NMESC) in Las Vegas. George was instrumental in relocating Basque sheep herders from Spain to New Mexico for the Northern New Mexico sheep industry, in the development of the Tres Ritas ski area (now Sipapu), and in the building of the original boat house at Storrie Lake. In 1939, he married his childhood sweetheart from Nebraska City, Marjorie Musser Duff, in Taos. In early 1940, he accepted a position with the NMESC in Albuquerque and became Assistant State Director, a position he held until his retirement. During WWII, he served in the US Army, stationed at Ft. George E. Mead in Maryland. George was an amateur boxer in his youth and an avid golfer, sports fan and outdoors man throughout his life. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He gave of himself by being involved with and by providing leadership to many organizations. He was a member of St. Mark'son-the-Mesa Episcopal Church and St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Nebraska City). Other organizations he was affiliated with were the Masonic Lodge Temple #6, Scottish Rite and Ballut Abyad Temple of Albuquerque, BPOE, Kiwanis, founder and president of the Albuquerque Exchange Club, Toastmasters, Knife and Fork Club, 20-30 Club, Lobo Club, Western Senior Amateur Golf Association (President and Director), West Texas/New Mexico Golf Association, New Mexico Senior Golf Association, New Mexico Senior Golf Association, American Legion in Jemez Springs, Angel Fire Sportsman and Conservation Club, Albuquerque Country Club (Director), Four Hills Country Club (an original founder and board member), Angel Fire Country Club and Albuquerque Petroleum Club. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Marjorie; his sons, Robert and Phillip, their wives, Millie and Krys; three adoring granddaughters, Sasha, Erin and Nicole; his sister, Dorothy Chaney of Falls City, NE; and nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his dedicated caregivers, Pramod Paudel and Tsering Lhamo. A private funeral service was held shortly following his death. An open house to celebrate his life for friends and family will be held on April 18, 1999, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the home of Robert Custer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be given in his name to either the Alzheimer's Association, 919 N. Michigan, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60011, the National Foundation for Cancer Research, 7315 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 500W, Bethesda, MD 20814, or the Albuquerque Community Foundation, P.O. Box 3960, Albuquerque, NM 87176. French Mortuary, 1111 University Blvd. NE.
        Published on: Fri April 16, 1999