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We are sad to announce the death of Rev. Paul Bengtson, 83, of Storm Lake. He passed away on Nov. 26, 2025, as a result of a car accident in Humboldt County.
Memorial services will take place Sunday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Visitation will be held from 12:30-2 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Burial will be held at a later date. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
Paul was born Dec. 2, 1941, in Galesburg, Ill., to Rev. Nels and Alphild (Liljegren) Bengtson.
Paul was united in marriage to Mary Ann Becker on Aug. 14, 1965. Paul and Mary Ann adopted three children and raised their granddaughter, Heather.
Paul graduated from Moline High School in Moline, Ill., then received his bachelor of arts from Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., and his masters of divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, Ill. He was ordained on May 22, 1968.
Paul served multiple congregations in Illinois before transferring to the Western Iowa Synod in 1994 to serve Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca. He joined synod staff as assistant to the Bishop under former Bishop Curtis Miller in 1999. After retiring in 2004, he continued his service providing interim ministry to Eagle Grove and Vincent, Pocahontas and Storm Lake through 2016. He was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Storm Lake.
In his free time, Paul found joy in the outdoors, whether he was hiking, biking or camping. He was an avid reader, a lover of newspaper puzzles and someone who cherished meaningful connections with others.
Cherishing Paul’s memory are his daughter, Hilda Clewell; his granddaughters, Heather Woodley and Nicole Charette; his great-grandsons, Daniel and Evan; and his great-granddaughter, Delilah.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Nels and Alphild (Liljegren) Bengtson; his wife Mary Ann (Becker) Bengtson; brother David Bengtson; his son Peter Bengtson; and his daughter Amy Bengtson.
