Betty Bengston, 1946-2021
On November 23, 2021, Betty Deanne (Guy) Bengtson was “promoted to Glory.” She passed away due to cancer complications. She was surrounded by family in her last days and passed in peace and with dignity.
Betty was born in Fort Collins, Colorado on Friday, July 13, 1946 to Charles Dean and Kathryn Alice Guy. She spent her formative years in Colorado before moving to California for middle school, high school and college. She earned her bachelor’s degree in teaching from BIOLA University. She earned her master’s in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from the University of Guam.
Her passion for teaching was at the forefront of her life. In junior high Betty volunteered with Child Evangelism Fellowship and continued to do so for most of her life. Her vocation, to teach children about the Lord Jesus Christ, was evident in every facet of her life.
Teaching took her to Oahu, Hawaii where she met Karl Fredeic Bengtson. They were married August 8, 1970. Karl served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. Throughout all of his military assignments, that spread across the continental United States and Guam, Betty sought out opportunities to teach. She taught in public and private schools, homeschooled their four children (Krystie, Hannah, Nathanael and Peter), on the collegiate level at Alaska Bible College, volunteered in Sunday School and Awana.
When Karl retired from the U.S. Coast Guard, they chose to serve the Lord through Operation Mobilization. During her time aboard the ship, Betty taught in the ship’s school, mentored young missionaries and mothers and taught English to individuals who had limited proficiency in the language. She and Karl continued to minister with OM for many years after their full-time commitment had finished. She continued to teach English to speakers of other languages and was able to also teach others how to teach English to speakers of other languages.
In retirement Betty enjoyed spending time with her family, crafting, gardening, giggling with her granddaughters and traveling to areas where she could serve or learn more about her Lord, Jesus Christ. She was a faithful church attender and was a devoted prayer warrior. Betty leaves behind a legacy of many who know the Lord because of her dedication to teaching, her love for her family and friends and her faithfulness to be in His word, prayer and action.
Betty is preceded in death by her father and mother, Charles and Kathryn Guy; younger brothers, Stanley Guy and Terry Guy; and grandson, Karl Daniel. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Karl Frederic; her four children, Krystie Aleece (Terry), Hannah Ruth, Nathanael Eric (Kristal) and Peter Dean (Elizabeth); and thirteen grandchildren, Johnathan David (Shayna), Josiah Isaac, Kathryn Alice, Wesley Jacob (Elizabeth), Trinity Raye, Christopher Elroy, Paul Matthew, Jude Elijah, River Raye, Julia Elizabeth, Blaze Raye, Eliana Joy and Amelia Grace.
A Celebration of Life will take place in the Spring. In remembrance of Betty’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to Samaritan’s Purse in her honor.
