Vern Bengtson - Class of 2015

Vern Bengtson was born to Fred and Carol Jean Bengtson of Post Falls, Idaho.   He has two siblings, Jerry, and Linda.  Vern attended Post Falls schools until he graduated in 1963. He was a member of the 1^st Post Falls State Champion basketball team in 1963.

Vern attended North Idaho College, where he played basketball, from 1963 through 1965, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Idaho in 1967.  He taught Social Studies/Government at Lakeland High School from 1967 until he retired in 2003.

Throughout his 36 years in the Lakeland School District, he coached all junior high sports, boys and girls basketball at the high school, boys and girls varsity track, was an assistant football coach, and held the position as the athletic director at the high school for several years.

Awards he received include:

North Idaho Coach of the Year, 1985, Idaho Athletic Director of the Year, 2001, and Lakeland High School Teacher of the Year.

Vern and his wife Judy (of 35+ years) reside at Hollister Hills in Hauser, Idaho.  They have 2 sons, Jeff and Mark, and 4 grandchildren, Dylan, Geneva, Brayden and Lauren.  Jeff and Mark  were both successful athletes at Lakeland in football and basketball.  Jeff is currently the Principal of Lakes Junior High in Coeur d’Alene, and Mark, is a Physical Therapist.  He owns and operates Pinnacle Physical Therapy in Post Falls.  Jeff graduated from Lakeland in 1988 and Mark graduated from Lakeland in 1990. 

Vern enjoys spending his retirement years gardening, woodworking, playing with the grandkids, and fishing when he gets time.