Gala Will Honor Retiring Judge John Bengston

A retirement gala for Latah County District Judge John H. Bengston will be held Sept. 26 at the University Inn in Moscow.

The public is invited to the event, which begins at 6 p.m. with a no-host cocktail hour, followed by a banquet at 7.

Bengston was appointed to the bench in 1985 by former Gov. John Evans. He hangs up his black robe Oct. 31.

A New York native, Bengston graduated from Lewiston High School in 1949 and the University of Idaho College of Law in 1954. He practiced in Lewiston for 30 years.

Bengston’s wife, Marilyn Pond Bengston, is a graduate of UI as are two of the couple’s four children.

“We are honoring two special people - John and Marilyn Bengston,” said Moscow attorney Bob Tunnicliff.

The evening will include a roast by Latah County Magistrate Bill Hamlett, Jesse Walters of the Idaho Court of Appeals, and former Moscow-Pullman Daily News Publisher Jay Shelledy.

People are asked to make reservations by calling Anne Dwelle at (208) 882-5939.