Tagee Bengston (1907-2008) was my grandfather. The son of Swedish immigrants, Tagee lived his entire life in Rockford, Illinois. He married Vayda Boyd, my grandmother, in 1930. In 1946 he was appointed to the post of Auditor of Winnebago County, Illinois. Starting in 1948, he was elected to that post, and he held it until he retired in 1974. In 1980, Vayda passed away just two months after their 50th wedding anniversary. Tagee remarried in 1986, and outlived his second wife Jane by eight years.
Tagee Bengston lived 100 years, 6 months, and 24 days. He outlived everyone in his era. As strong as a bull, he could still hurt your hand with a handshake well into his nineties. Sometimes I thought he would last forever.
Tagee dedicated his life to public service and helping people. He was universally loved in Rockford, and asked to serve on many nonprofit boards. In the years after his retirement from politics, he volunteered at a local hospital.
Going out in public with Tagee was an experience. He knew everyone in town, and even a trip to the grocery store could result in a dozen introductions, handshakes and back-slaps. Everyone loved Tagee.