THE DESERT NEWS
Salt Lake City, Utah
Tuesday, June 3, 2008


Horace Waldon "Custer" Durrance, 84, passed away on May 30th at his home in Ephraim surrounded by his family. Custer was born on January 18, 1924 in Bunnell, Florida to Thomas Omega Durrance and Irene Mathilda Jeppson.

During his childhood Custer played in the woods, raised cattle with his father, fished, and hunted alligators with his brothers. His love for the outdoors continued throughout his life.

Custer married his eternal sweetheart, LaVon "Bonnie" Neilson on January 10, 1969 in the Salt Lake Temple.

A proud member of the Marine Bombing Squadron 611, Custer served as a Sergeant in World War II. He had great love and pride for his country. Custer was a lineman by trade, working for Florida Power & Light for 18 years, and later retiring from Kennecott Copper.

An active member of the LDS Church, Custer held several positions in Bishoprics, High Councils, and scouting and was a Jordan River Temple worker for 10 years. Custer's greatest treasures are his children and grandchildren. "Papa" is irreplaceable.

Custer is survived by his wife Bonnie; children: Robert and Bonnie Durrance of Mebane, North Carolina; Bryan and Stacey Fletcher and Billy and Amy Noblett all of Ephraim, Utah; sisters: Norma Turner and Johnnie Helms of Bunnell, Florida. He is the proud Papa of 11 grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and two grandsons.

Funeral services will include a viewing in Ephraim on Wednesday, June 4th from 4-6 p.m. at the LDS Church at 765 S. 100 E.

The funeral will be held on Thurs., June 5th at 12 noon at the Bluffdale Ward house, 14400 S. 1700 W., with a viewing from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Interment, with military honors, will be held at the Ephraim City Cemetery.

To meet Custer was to like him. To know him was to love him.