Joan (Romero) Bengtson, 88, passed away on February 6, 2022 at her home in Overland Park, Kansas. She was surrounded by her loving family. She fought a long, hard battle with end stage renal failure.
Joan is the daughter of Elvira Munoz and Castulo Romero, who lived in Tehuantepec, México. At age four she returned to live in the westside of Kansas City, Missouri. There, she was raised by her mother and stepfather as the eldest of six sisters: Evelyn Romero, Josie Bond, Rose Beasely, Phyllis Jacobs, and Marsha Sanders.
Later in life, she was pleased to learn she had other brothers and sisters from her late father: Elvia Aragon Reiter, Castulo Aragon Escobar, Blanca Estella Aragon Escobar, Virginia Aragon Escobar, Emelina Aragon Escobar, Felipe de Jesus Aragon Escobar.
With the encouragement of her mother, Joan had the ambition and drive to achieve anything she set her mind to. She had aspirations to be an artist and dress designer; all of which were put on hold after she met her first husband, Pete Rios. Her goals changed as she focused on raising her four children: Rita and Chris Kelly, Donna and Stan Stokes, Mitchell and Linda Rios, and Susan and Robert Latas.
Following the dissolution of her first marriage, she met the love of her life, Brent Bengtson and blessed him with a ready-made family on August 9, 1969. Since then, her family has swelled to twelve grandchildren: Dominic Rios, Melissa Latas, Ryan and Candice Merritt, Erika and Donovan Spielbusch, Shawna and Andrew Patch, and Jaymie and Tyler Davis, Amber Merritt and Keith Gould, Ivan Latas. In addition, her family grew to ten great-grandchildren: Melia, Jake, Sabrina, Maya, Liam, Liliana, Gabrielle, Charlotte, Vivian, and Adriana.
Joan began her career as a Draftsperson and Cartographic Aide in 1952. She worked at various engineering firms around the greater Kansas City area, as well as Salem, Oregon. She got her real-estate license and became a Realtor in 1977. Always having an entrepreneurial spirit, she and spouse, Brent, started investing in rental properties.
Joan achieved her Associates of Arts degree in 1984 from JCCC. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare from Avila College, during which time she was given the Dorothy Gallagher award. In 1985, she earned her Master’s Degree in Social Welfare from the University of Kansas. Subsequently, she worked as a Licensed Social Worker at mental health centers and psychiatric hospitals. Together, Joan and Brent started a private practice in Social Welfare, serving Johnson and Miami counties.
Joan initiated a political career in 1980 by running for Johnson County Treasurer. In 1986, she served as interim Johnson County Commissioner. In 1990, She was selected as a chairperson for Governor Joan Finney’s campaign in the third district of Kansas. Following, she was appointed to the Kansas State Parole Board, where she served for four years.
Joan was preceded in death by her mother, Elvira Munoz, her father, Costulo Romero, her stepfather, Joe Munoz and many other family members. She leaves behind her loving husband of fifty-two years. Also surviving are her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters and brothers, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Joan lived a full and beautiful life. She will be greatly missed by all.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 10, 2022 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS 66215. Funeral mass will be at Holy Trinity on Friday, February 11, 2022 at 13615 W. 92nd Street, Lenexa KS 66215 beginning at 10:30am. An entombment ceremony at Resurrection Cemetery located at 83rd and Quivira Road, will follow.