The Wadena Pioneer Journal, June 1, 1950
Funeral Rites Today For Former Sheriff John Bengtson - Pioneer Citizen and County Official Dies Sunday at Age 81
One of Wadena County's best known citizens, former sheriff John Bengtson, passed away Sunday afternoon at his home in this city at the age of 81. Death came at 4:20 p.m. after an illness of three weeks.
Mr. Bengtson, who retired four years ago after serving this county as sheriff for 26 years, was widely known in law enforcement circles throughout the state. Not only was he a long-time official of the county, but he was a pioneer settler of the community, having immigrated from his native Sweden in 1881 to settle with his parents in Paddock township, Otter Tail county. In 1891 he became a resident of Wadena county, and was a farmer and business man for many years before being appointed to the county position he ably filled for over a quarter of a century.
The body is in state at the Butturff-Bjerke chapel, and will be taken at noon today (Thursday) to the Congregational church where the funeral will be conducted at 2:00 o'clock. Rev. Theoph. Meckel will officiate, and interment will be in the Wadena cemetery. Masonic services at the grave will be conducted by L.H. Colson and other members of the Masonic lodge, of which Mr. Bengtson was a member. Pallbearers will be Harold E. Parker, Atty.Hugh G. Parker, Judge Lynn H. Pettit, Arnold Arvidson, R.R. Ryti and John F. Peterson.
John Nickolas Bengtson was born on July 5, 1868 at Skone, Sweden. He attended school there and in 1881 immigrated with his parents to this country, coming directly to Paddock township, where his father homesteaded. On December 27, 1891, he was married to Anna Pierson.
The couple homesteaded near Sebeka, where they lived until he suffered an injury which forced him to give up farming. He then entered the livery business, and later the furniture business in Sebeka, until 1921 when he was appointed sheriff to complete the term of Sheriff Alvin Irwin, who died while in office in January, 1921.
Sheriff Bengtson used to recall the first day he served in that office as a "red letter" day due to the fact that by nightfall he had jailed 18 bootleggers. During his long tenure as sheriff, he averaged one call a day for 26 years, and had all his calls recorded in a thick ledger.
One of the high points in his career as a law enforcement official came just prior to his retirement, when he received a personal letter of thanks from J. Edgar Hoover, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr Hoover said, in part, "Your cooperation with the FBI during your terms of office is indeed appreciated and I want to write this personal note of thanks yo you. The law enforcement profession will miss your active guidance and I trust you will enjoy the years of retirement which you so richly deserve."
Mrs. Bengtson preceded him in death in 1932, and a son, David, was killed in World War II. Surviving are one son and four daughters: Arvid E. Bengtson of Anoka; Hannah, Mrs. Harry Nissen of Waterloo, Iowa; Eva, Mrs. Earl Andrews of Bismarck, N.D.; Vera, Mrs. C.A. Kraemer of Wadena, and Helen, Mrs, Charles Van Duzee of Brainers. There are also 19 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren; a brother, Martin, of Sebeka, and a sister, Mrs. Ida Wilson of Noonan, N.D.
(*Note - Former sheriff, Albert Irvin, died Jan 5, 1922)
Funeral Rites Today For Former Sheriff John Bengtson - Pioneer Citizen and County Official Dies Sunday at Age 81
One of Wadena County's best known citizens, former sheriff John Bengtson, passed away Sunday afternoon at his home in this city at the age of 81. Death came at 4:20 p.m. after an illness of three weeks.
Mr. Bengtson, who retired four years ago after serving this county as sheriff for 26 years, was widely known in law enforcement circles throughout the state. Not only was he a long-time official of the county, but he was a pioneer settler of the community, having immigrated from his native Sweden in 1881 to settle with his parents in Paddock township, Otter Tail county. In 1891 he became a resident of Wadena county, and was a farmer and business man for many years before being appointed to the county position he ably filled for over a quarter of a century.
The body is in state at the Butturff-Bjerke chapel, and will be taken at noon today (Thursday) to the Congregational church where the funeral will be conducted at 2:00 o'clock. Rev. Theoph. Meckel will officiate, and interment will be in the Wadena cemetery. Masonic services at the grave will be conducted by L.H. Colson and other members of the Masonic lodge, of which Mr. Bengtson was a member. Pallbearers will be Harold E. Parker, Atty.Hugh G. Parker, Judge Lynn H. Pettit, Arnold Arvidson, R.R. Ryti and John F. Peterson.
John Nickolas Bengtson was born on July 5, 1868 at Skone, Sweden. He attended school there and in 1881 immigrated with his parents to this country, coming directly to Paddock township, where his father homesteaded. On December 27, 1891, he was married to Anna Pierson.
The couple homesteaded near Sebeka, where they lived until he suffered an injury which forced him to give up farming. He then entered the livery business, and later the furniture business in Sebeka, until 1921 when he was appointed sheriff to complete the term of Sheriff Alvin Irwin, who died while in office in January, 1921.
Sheriff Bengtson used to recall the first day he served in that office as a "red letter" day due to the fact that by nightfall he had jailed 18 bootleggers. During his long tenure as sheriff, he averaged one call a day for 26 years, and had all his calls recorded in a thick ledger.
One of the high points in his career as a law enforcement official came just prior to his retirement, when he received a personal letter of thanks from J. Edgar Hoover, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr Hoover said, in part, "Your cooperation with the FBI during your terms of office is indeed appreciated and I want to write this personal note of thanks yo you. The law enforcement profession will miss your active guidance and I trust you will enjoy the years of retirement which you so richly deserve."
Mrs. Bengtson preceded him in death in 1932, and a son, David, was killed in World War II. Surviving are one son and four daughters: Arvid E. Bengtson of Anoka; Hannah, Mrs. Harry Nissen of Waterloo, Iowa; Eva, Mrs. Earl Andrews of Bismarck, N.D.; Vera, Mrs. C.A. Kraemer of Wadena, and Helen, Mrs, Charles Van Duzee of Brainers. There are also 19 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren; a brother, Martin, of Sebeka, and a sister, Mrs. Ida Wilson of Noonan, N.D.
(*Note - Former sheriff, Albert Irvin, died Jan 5, 1922)
The Wadena Pioneer Journal, June 1, 1950
Funeral Rites Today For Former Sheriff John Bengtson - Pioneer Citizen and County Official Dies Sunday at Age 81
One of Wadena County's best known citizens, former sheriff John Bengtson, passed away Sunday afternoon at his home in this city at the age of 81. Death came at 4:20 p.m. after an illness of three weeks.
Mr. Bengtson, who retired four years ago after serving this county as sheriff for 26 years, was widely known in law enforcement circles throughout the state. Not only was he a long-time official of the county, but he was a pioneer settler of the community, having immigrated from his native Sweden in 1881 to settle with his parents in Paddock township, Otter Tail county. In 1891 he became a resident of Wadena county, and was a farmer and business man for many years before being appointed to the county position he ably filled for over a quarter of a century.
The body is in state at the Butturff-Bjerke chapel, and will be taken at noon today (Thursday) to the Congregational church where the funeral will be conducted at 2:00 o'clock. Rev. Theoph. Meckel will officiate, and interment will be in the Wadena cemetery. Masonic services at the grave will be conducted by L.H. Colson and other members of the Masonic lodge, of which Mr. Bengtson was a member. Pallbearers will be Harold E. Parker, Atty.Hugh G. Parker, Judge Lynn H. Pettit, Arnold Arvidson, R.R. Ryti and John F. Peterson.
John Nickolas Bengtson was born on July 5, 1868 at Skone, Sweden. He attended school there and in 1881 immigrated with his parents to this country, coming directly to Paddock township, where his father homesteaded. On December 27, 1891, he was married to Anna Pierson.
The couple homesteaded near Sebeka, where they lived until he suffered an injury which forced him to give up farming. He then entered the livery business, and later the furniture business in Sebeka, until 1921 when he was appointed sheriff to complete the term of Sheriff Alvin Irwin, who died while in office in January, 1921.
Sheriff Bengtson used to recall the first day he served in that office as a "red letter" day due to the fact that by nightfall he had jailed 18 bootleggers. During his long tenure as sheriff, he averaged one call a day for 26 years, and had all his calls recorded in a thick ledger.
One of the high points in his career as a law enforcement official came just prior to his retirement, when he received a personal letter of thanks from J. Edgar Hoover, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr Hoover said, in part, "Your cooperation with the FBI during your terms of office is indeed appreciated and I want to write this personal note of thanks yo you. The law enforcement profession will miss your active guidance and I trust you will enjoy the years of retirement which you so richly deserve."
Mrs. Bengtson preceded him in death in 1932, and a son, David, was killed in World War II. Surviving are one son and four daughters: Arvid E. Bengtson of Anoka; Hannah, Mrs. Harry Nissen of Waterloo, Iowa; Eva, Mrs. Earl Andrews of Bismarck, N.D.; Vera, Mrs. C.A. Kraemer of Wadena, and Helen, Mrs, Charles Van Duzee of Brainers. There are also 19 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren; a brother, Martin, of Sebeka, and a sister, Mrs. Ida Wilson of Noonan, N.D.
(*Note - Former sheriff, Albert Irvin, died Jan 5, 1922)
Funeral Rites Today For Former Sheriff John Bengtson - Pioneer Citizen and County Official Dies Sunday at Age 81
One of Wadena County's best known citizens, former sheriff John Bengtson, passed away Sunday afternoon at his home in this city at the age of 81. Death came at 4:20 p.m. after an illness of three weeks.
Mr. Bengtson, who retired four years ago after serving this county as sheriff for 26 years, was widely known in law enforcement circles throughout the state. Not only was he a long-time official of the county, but he was a pioneer settler of the community, having immigrated from his native Sweden in 1881 to settle with his parents in Paddock township, Otter Tail county. In 1891 he became a resident of Wadena county, and was a farmer and business man for many years before being appointed to the county position he ably filled for over a quarter of a century.
The body is in state at the Butturff-Bjerke chapel, and will be taken at noon today (Thursday) to the Congregational church where the funeral will be conducted at 2:00 o'clock. Rev. Theoph. Meckel will officiate, and interment will be in the Wadena cemetery. Masonic services at the grave will be conducted by L.H. Colson and other members of the Masonic lodge, of which Mr. Bengtson was a member. Pallbearers will be Harold E. Parker, Atty.Hugh G. Parker, Judge Lynn H. Pettit, Arnold Arvidson, R.R. Ryti and John F. Peterson.
John Nickolas Bengtson was born on July 5, 1868 at Skone, Sweden. He attended school there and in 1881 immigrated with his parents to this country, coming directly to Paddock township, where his father homesteaded. On December 27, 1891, he was married to Anna Pierson.
The couple homesteaded near Sebeka, where they lived until he suffered an injury which forced him to give up farming. He then entered the livery business, and later the furniture business in Sebeka, until 1921 when he was appointed sheriff to complete the term of Sheriff Alvin Irwin, who died while in office in January, 1921.
Sheriff Bengtson used to recall the first day he served in that office as a "red letter" day due to the fact that by nightfall he had jailed 18 bootleggers. During his long tenure as sheriff, he averaged one call a day for 26 years, and had all his calls recorded in a thick ledger.
One of the high points in his career as a law enforcement official came just prior to his retirement, when he received a personal letter of thanks from J. Edgar Hoover, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr Hoover said, in part, "Your cooperation with the FBI during your terms of office is indeed appreciated and I want to write this personal note of thanks yo you. The law enforcement profession will miss your active guidance and I trust you will enjoy the years of retirement which you so richly deserve."
Mrs. Bengtson preceded him in death in 1932, and a son, David, was killed in World War II. Surviving are one son and four daughters: Arvid E. Bengtson of Anoka; Hannah, Mrs. Harry Nissen of Waterloo, Iowa; Eva, Mrs. Earl Andrews of Bismarck, N.D.; Vera, Mrs. C.A. Kraemer of Wadena, and Helen, Mrs, Charles Van Duzee of Brainers. There are also 19 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren; a brother, Martin, of Sebeka, and a sister, Mrs. Ida Wilson of Noonan, N.D.
(*Note - Former sheriff, Albert Irvin, died Jan 5, 1922)
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