Roger Dean Bengtson

PROVO, Utah – Roger Dean Bengtson, 82, formerly Austin, Texas, died May 8, 2023, in Provo, Utah.

Roger was born April 29, 1941, in Wausa to Fridolph and Edith Bengtson and grew up on a farm three miles outside of Wausa. He attended a country school until eighth grade. He then went to high school in Wausa.

Roger graduated from the University of Nebraska, majoring in physics and math. He then took a job at NASA, Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va. There he earned his master of science in physics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1964. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a Ph.D. in physics in August 1968.

Roger worked as a professor at the University of Texas from 1968 to 2015. His research interests varied from edge turbulence in a tokamak, plasma diagnostics, radio frequency heating, laser-produced plasma in a high magnetic field and plasma rockets.

Roger met Billie Spies at the University of Nebraska and they were married June 15, 1963. Their first child, Nissa Christine, was born June 5, 1968. Their second child, Eric Lars, was born Jan. 25, 1970, and died later that year. Their third child, Hans Eric, was born Nov. 15, 1971.

Roger is survived by his daughter, Nissa (Chad) Allred; his son, Dr. Hans (John) Bengtson; two grandchildren, Carrick and Annie Allred; a great-grandson, Sawyer; and his sister, JoAnn (Terry) Wamberg.

Roger was preceded in death by his wife, Billie, and his son, Eric Lars.