Obituary of Bernard Romaine Bengford

Bernard Romaine "Bernie" Bengford, the son of Bernard H. and Erma (Dinges) Bengford, was born February 7, 1935, in Odebolt, Iowa. He received his bachelor's degree at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa and a Masters degree in Social Science at NEMS in Kirksville, Missouri. On July 22, 1967, Bernie was united in marriage with Janet Ann Bengfort in Des Moines, Iowa. He taught 7th and 8th grade Social Studies in Erling High School in St. Joseph, Missouri for eight years and in the Newton Community Schools for twenty-eight years. He retired from teaching in 1994 and then worked at the Newton YMCA for ten years. Bernie was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree and served as Grand Knight for two years. Bernie died on Friday, April 29, 2011 at Skiff Medical Center in Newton. He was 76 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Norbert and Wilbert Bengford and his sisters, Loretta Bengford and Alice Haffner. Those left to honor Bernie's memory include his wife Janet of Newton, his daughter Andrea Lynn Bengford (Allan Hartley) of Albia, Iowa, son David Bengford of Newton, granddaughter Stephanie Lynn Hartley, sisters Madeline McTasney of Carmichael, CA, Mary Jean Schiernbeck of Lamar, MO, Margie Jeannett of Muscatine, IA, brothers John Bengford of North Kingston, RI, Ken Bengford of South Pasedena, CA, Tom Bengford of Garden Grove, CA, Norman Bengford of San Jose, CA, Ted Bengford of Maywood, IL; and many nieces and nephews.