Luetta Marie Young passed away November 17, 2009, in Lompoc, California after a long illness. She was born July 3, 1929, in Isabel, South Dakota to Louis and Mabel Gellner.

Her family moved to Coeur D'Alene, Idaho during the depression of the 1930's, where she grew up with her five siblings. In 1948 she met her future husband Bill, an army musician, and after his tour of duty in Korea they were married. She spent the next several years involved in the music scene in Tacoma, Washington, writing music for her husband's arrangements for the local big bands of the era.

She lived most of her life in the Seattle-Tacoma area and worked for many years in downtown Seattle during its heyday as a retail center. In the 1960's and 70's Bill's career with the Boeing Company made them "missile migrants," as they moved several times between Vandenberg Air Force Base and Seattle. They retired to Tacoma in 1987, after which they traveled extensively. She was an accomplished seamstress and loved archaeology, history, music and gardening.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years Bill Young, her son and daughter-in-law Stan and Yvonne Young, grandchildren Jessica, Sean and Cory of Lompoc, her brother Phillip Gellner of Moses Lake, Washington and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the Lompoc Comprehensive Care Center for the many years of excellent and compassionate care Luetta received. The funeral service will be held at 4 pm Thursday, November 19, 2009, at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.