Obituary of Dorothy A. Bengtson

Dorothy Alexander Bengtson, 90, died April 13, 2014 in Schenectady, New York with family at her side. Alex, as she was known, was born and raised in Concordia, Kansas. Her parents were Winfield Wright Alexander and Minnie Vandanacker Alexander. She was an excellent tennis player in her high school and college years as well as a strong swimmer. Having access to a neighbor's pool, she loved to teach kids to swim. She was an accomplished pianist and organist and often played at Sunday services in local churches. During school vacations she was employed at a local bank. Alex's academic record at Kansas State University was outstanding and she was a member of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity. A professor who was familiar with the General Electric accounting program informed GE of her record and availability and in 1945 she received a job offer. She was ready to leave Kansas and accepted promptly. After a few months in accounting she had an opportunity to transfer to the General Engineering Laboratory where she worked for several years as a planner/scheduler. In Schenectady, she lived quite happily with a congenial group of women, college graduates recruited by GE, from all over the country. Their co-op house was called rather whimsically "the Last Resort." In 1949 she married Ralph W Bengtson, an accountant who had been recruited by GE for its Business Training Program. They built a house and moved into the West Hill community where they started their family and lived happily for 58 years. With two daughters, Alex's priorities changed and she became active in Girl Scouts, serving as a troop leader for a number of years. She also enjoyed golf, downhill skiing, sailing, gardening, knitting, duplicate bridge and doing the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle (in pen). During the 1970s she became interested in tax accounting and worked for a large national tax company, soon becoming manager of their local office. After obtaining her certification as an Enrolled Agent, she established and successfully ran her own business, D.A. Bengtson, EA, before it became Bengtson Tax Services, EAs when her daughter Diane joined; the business is now known as D.C. Bengtson-Kilbourn, EA. In addition to her parents and husband, Alex was predeceased by their daughter Ann Dorothy Bengtson, grandson Curtis Bengtson Sayles, and brother W. Van Alexander. She is survived by her daughters, Diane (Scott) Bengtson-Kilbourn of Scotia, NY and Carla (David) Sayles of Ithaca, NY; grandchildren Britta and Eric Kilbourn and Annika Sayles; brother J. Dean (Shirley) Alexander of Overland Park, Kansas; sister Diane Lowe of Ogden, Utah; along with many nephews and nieces. A memorial service will be held at a future date; there will be no calling hours. Interment will be in the columbarium at St. George's Episcopal Church, N. Ferry St, Schenectady. Contributions may be made in her memory to: Neuroscience Goldberg Alzheimer's Patient and Family Center Fund at Albany Medical Center Foundation, 43 New Scotland Ave, Mail code 119, Albany, NY 12208 or online at https://community.amc.edu/givenow