Paul Bengtson
Mystic — Paul J. Bengtson of Mystic, died peacefully Jan. 29, 2024, at the age of 95. Paul was born Sept. 11, 1928, in Cherokee, Iowa. He is the son of the late Carl and Esther (Stenborg) Bengtson.
He attended Ballard High School in Seattle, Wash., and graduated from Ivanhoe High School in Minnesota. Upon graduation, he went on to attend and receive degrees from Augustana College, and Augustana Theological Seminary in Rock Island, Ill.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Eileen Bengtson; five children: Karin Face, Joan Bengtson of Boston, Mass.; and David Bengtson of Connecticut; stepsons William Garrett of Henderson, Nev., and Daniel Garrett of Franklin; son-in-law Dean Face; and daughter-in-law Paula Jacoby-Garrett of Henderson, Nev.; six grandchildren: Stephen and Carolyne Face, Gwen and Evan Garrett, and Emily and Jillian Garrett, and their mother Lori; a great-grandson, River Garrett; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife Barbara N. Crocker; sister Ruth Jackson; brother Luther Bengtson; and foster son Douglas Schilb.
Paul served as an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America at Grace Lutheran Church in Osage City, Kan., Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester, Mass., St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bridgeport, and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Brookfield. Paul also served as president of the Bridgeport Family Services Society and as the Connecticut House of Representatives chaplin from 1973 to 1974. After retiring from the ministry, he pursued a career in computer science as a programmer/ analyst at GenRe in Stamford, where he worked well into his eighth decade impressing his younger colleagues with his vigor and interest in learning new things. During this time, he was very active in Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Georgetown. Paul most enjoyed spending time with his family and was an avid traveler, cyclist and pet owner. While living at Masonicare in Mystic, he enjoyed playing poker with his friends, dressing up for various special occasions like Halloween, Mardi Gras and so forth and walking his dog Monty. Paul was particularly interested in astronomy, a passion he passed on to his children and grandchildren. He wrote several monographs and computer programs to teach astronomy to youngsters as well as helping Eileen plan and execute night-time astronomy events for her third-grade students in Weston. While living at Masonicare, he wrote an astronomy column for the monthly Newsletter. A special moment was when he witnessed the total solar eclipse of 2017, with one of his grandsons and other family members near Nashville, Tenn. Paul will be remembered for his kindness, intelligence, good humor and love of family.
A memorial service and interment will be held at noon, Saturday, April 27, at St. Peter‘s Lutheran Church, at 1530 Augsburg Drive in Hilltown, Pa. Should you wish to make a memorial gift in Paul’s name, there are three entities which were near and dear to his heart: Westport Astronomical Society, 182 Bayberry Lane, Westport CT 06880 (https:// wasct.org/), Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 914-243-2205 (donate.guidingeyes.org), or Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Box 94, Georgetown, CT 06829.