Samuel H. Bengtson

Samuel Henry Bengtson, age 72 years, born in Thief River Falls, Minnesota on July 2, 1950, and raised in Karlstad, MN, a resident of Gaylord, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday evening, January 4, 2023.

He passed doing what he liked best, which was working on and repairing pistols.  His other passions were fishing on Lake Michigan for Salmon, riding his Harley, working in his workshop, spending time with his family and his beloved devoted canine companion, Lucy, who never let him out of her sight.

Starting at the early age of 14, during summer break, Sam worked on 16 to 20 section acre farms where he learned to repair all kinds of farm machinery. He then worked at Arctic Cat inc. from 1966 to 1969 building snowmobiles and helping the racing development program. He raced and tested new machines and helped engineer new parts.

Sam was proud to be an Army Veteran, serving for four years. He was stationed at Fort Wainwright Military Base in Alaska where he worked as a duty military equipment mechanic. He drove rigs down the Atigun Pass, a dangerous decent of 4,600 ft at a standard 12-degree grade. When other drivers refused an unimaginable condition, he was proud of the fact that he never failed to get the rig down undamaged.

He also was involved in stock car racing at the North Pole Speedway, earning the Fastest Car of The Day, Stock Heat Winner etc.

He also represented the Fort Wainwright Racing Team always driving #60, a bright red 1965 Mustang. He later moved to Michigan and worked at Gaylord Communications before landing a job at Gaylord Community Schools as their main mechanic, where he kept the school bus fleet in tip top shape. After 20 years of service, he retired at the age of 55.

He became involved in the restoration of the home where he and his wife reside. He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Penny Bengtson, and his stepchildren, Debra Wells, Raymond Wells and his wife Annette, their children Allison Wells, Dale Wells, and his wife Sahadet, Joe Cogswell and his son Cooper Cogswell. Also surviving is his son, Samuel Bengtson II and his wife Sara Bengtson, two grandchildren Samuel Bengtson III and Elliana Bengtson of Cromwell, IN. Also surviving, two stepchildren Derek Elliott and Amy Viviano and their children. Also surviving is his sister Maureen Nelson and her husband Brad, their three children and numerous nieces and nephews. 

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service, where visitation will begin at 10:00 AM.

Please share your memories and personal messages with the family on the guestbook, below.