student and athlete, Bert graduated from Renton HighSchool in 1955, attended the UW
for 2 years before being appointed to the USMA at West Point, NY. Graduating in 1961,
he began a military career which included a tour in Vietnam, duty as a General’s Aide,
obtaining a Master’s degree in Mathematics,and service in NATO.
He also graduated from the Army’s Command and General Staff College at Leavenworth, KS.
Retiring in 1986, Bert returned to Renton and, until his health began to fail, he taught
Trigonometry and Calculus. Bert and Shirley (Bakken) celebrated 46 years of marriage on August 7.
He is preceded in death by his brother and sisterin-law Alec N. Custer (Barbara),
and sister Maribeth Zwick, survived by son Derek Smith of NYC, granddaughter Savannah
Migliuri, brother Don (Loraine) Custer, sisters Gina Custer and Lia (Steve) Reardon, John and
Frank Grabner, and nieces Rose, Ingrid, and Erika Custer, Rachel and Hillary Grabner, and nephews
Richard, Tim, and Kjell Custer. A public “Celebration of Life” service will be held at a future date.
