Elaine Corporon Bengtson

Elaine Corporon (Davis) Bengtson was born August 8, 1929, in rural Putnam County, Missouri, where she lived until age 14, when she moved to Kansas City, Missouri, to live with her sister, Margaret Davis. She graduated from Westport High School in 1947 and later completed her education at Johnson County Community College and Avila University, studying literature, music, and philosophy. She was a longtime member of Community Christian Church, where she sang for many years in the choir. Over her career, Elaine worked as a secretary and administrative assistant at many places, including TWA, Reynolds Metals, Mid-America Bottling, Johnson County Community College, and the Kansas City Art Institute. Elaine was married to William A. Bengtson, Jr. from 1951 until his death in 1969. During his Naval career, she moved from Florida to Cuba, to Washington, D.C., to Kodiak, Alaska, to Long Beach and San Diego, California, before returning to Kansas City in 1966.

Elaine enjoyed music, sewing, gardening, and especially attending most of her sons' activities at ball games and performances with R&R bands. She was a second "mom" to many of their friends, and her home was always open to them.

Elaine passed away of heart failure at home on August 6, 2026, with her daughter and grandson, Jim, at her side. She was preceded in death by her parents, Stewart B. and Daisy A. (Corporon) Davis; her husband, William A. Bengtson, Jr.; and her siblings, Charles, Daisy Margaret, George James, and Joe Edwin Davis. She is survived by her children, Karin L. Fowler Christie, Phillip G. (Laura) Bengtson, and James R. (Diann) Bengtson; her grandchildren, Gavin R. and James P. Fowler, Crystal Fritz, Courtney Burns, Kyler Bengtson, Hillary Wood, and Paige Bradshaw; as well as six great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to plant a tree or donate to City Union Mission. Elaine always had room for another tree and an extra person at the "Inn."