Bernice Bengston

Bernice M. Bengston, daughter of Ray and Edith (Cecil) Bowles, was born October 8, 1916, in Arlington, Kansas. She attended grade school in Arlington and graduated from Arlington High School. She then attended Salt City Business College in Hutchinson and spent one year at Emporia State Teacher's College.

Bernice took her first teaching job at a country school 10 miles south of Arlington. After a couple of years, she went back to Emporia State Teachers College and received her degree. She eventually accumulated over 150 college hours.

With college completed, Bernice landed a teaching position in Oxford, Kansas at the high school, where she taught for about a year and a half. She then went on to Great Bend, Kansas and taught at the middle school for three years. Bernice eventually ended up in Hutchinson and taught in the public school system there for over 35 years.

On August 3, 1956, Bernice was united in marriage to Evert L. Bengston at the Andover Lutheran Church. They lived in Hutchinson until Bernice's retirement in 1979, when they moved to a farm near Windom, Kansas. During those years, Bernice gave informational talks on the Santa Fe Trail because the trail was in close proximity to where they lived.

In 2009, Bernice and Evert moved to Hutchinson to an apartment at the Good Samaritan Center.

Bernice entered peacefully into eternal rest on Saturday, May 5, 2012, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was ninety-five.

Survivors include: her loving husband, Evert of the home; cousin, Eleanor Staggs of Wichita; brothers-in-law, Arvid Bengston of McPherson, Willard Bengston (Joyce) of Windom, Virgul Bengston (Carole) of Hutchinson; a sister-in-law, Gloria Plooster (Marvin) of McPherson; and several nieces, and nephews. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Bernice Bengston please visit our Sympathy Store.