Bajema, Leonard 1918-2005

BAJEMA, VANDENBOSCH, VANDERSANDEN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/24/2014 at 18:02:01

Sioux Center News June 22, 2005

Leonard Bajema, 86, of Hills, Minnesota, died Tuesday, June 14, at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Friday at the Reformed Church of Steen with the Rev. Dan Ramaker officiating. Burial will follow at Eastside Cemetery of Steen.

Bajema was born December 11,1918, at Rock Valley, the son of Barney and Johanna (Vanden Bosch) Bajema. He grew up in the Rock Valley area and attended Christian School. On February 22, 1945, he married Henrietta Vander Sanden at the home of her parents. Following their marriage the couple farmed with his father near Rock Valley for two years. In 1947 they moved to Hills, when they bought their own farm. He truly loved farming and took great pride in raising his crops and livestock and was known for his hard work and dedication. His family fondly remembers his love of all animals along with his ability to tinker and fix most anything mechanical.

For much of his life he was a member of the Reformed Church of Steen and for many years served as an usher. In 1995 the couple left the farm and moved into Hills. They enjoyed traveling south for the winter and for two years they traveled in their camper to Texas and for 13 years they were snow birds in Arizona. On February 4, 2000, he became a resident of Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.

Surviving is his wife of 60 years, Henrietta of Hills; four children, Duane (Janet) Bajema of Sioux Center, Barbara (Lyle) Acheson of Madison, South Dakota, Rodney(Twyla) Bajema of Larchwood and Linda (Brad) Bosch of Steen; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Frances Dykstra of Sioux Center, Irene (John) DeWitt and Alice (Harold) Rosters, all of Rock Valley, and Agnes Horstman of Sanborn; and three brothers, Bernie Bajema of Phoenix, Arizona, Ronald (Evelyn) Bajema of Rock Valley and Robert (Helen) Bajema of Sioux Falls.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Otto; a sister-in-law, Marlene Bajema; and two brothers-inlaw, Clarence Dykstra and Marion Horstman. Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital will be planting a tree in memory of Leonard Bajema.