Henrietta Bajema

Hills, MN

     Henrietta Bajema of Hills, MN died Saturday, August 10, 2019 at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.

     The funeral service will take place 10:30 AM Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at the Steen Reformed Church in Steen, MN with Rev. Jeremy Wiersma officiating. Burial will follow at the East Side Cemetery in Steen.

     Visitation will be from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM Tuesday, August 13^th , with the family present from 3:00 to 5:00 PM and again from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Steen Reformed Church of Steen, MN.    

     In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials, which will be designated at a later date.

     Henrietta Bajema was born December 5, 1922 in Rock Valley, IA to John and Hermina (Wissink) Vander Sanden. She attended country school near Rock Valley. In her childhood and during the dustbowl days, several families including Henrietta’s parents moved their families to the Martin, SD area to homestead. Times were hard for them. After many struggles, they and most of the other families moved back to Rock Valley. Part of Henrietta’s strong character was formed during those years. She learned the value of hard work, family and faith in Jesus Christ. She also learned to be optimistic and look to the future with gratitude and faith that all would be ok. During WWII , she and a girl friend rode a train to Chicago. They wanted to make a difference in the war effort by making bandages and  ammunition for the war effort.

    On February 22, 1945 she was united in marriage to Leonard Bajema at her parents’ home near Rock Valley. The young couple moved several places before settling on a farm west of Hills, MN where they raised their four children. She worked most of her life as a homemaker and was a dedicated helper to her husband on the farm. Later she worked in the dietary department of the Tuff Home in Hills, MN and later as a food product demo person at Randalls Food Store.    

     Henrietta had a love for music. After one piano lesson at a young age, she taught herself to play hymns, enjoying that talent up to the last year of her life. Another talent was her cooking, something her entire family enjoyed.

     Her positive attitude carried Henrietta through her many health challenges. Starting in her 30s, she battled breast cancer several times and multiple major surgeries. She faced each challenge with a renewed faith in God. This unwavering love for the Lord was passed on to her family. She will be greatly missed.

     She is survived by her children, son, Duane (Jan) Bajema of Sioux Center, IA; daughter, Barb (Lyle) Weidenbach of Sioux Falls, SD; son, Rod (Sue) Bajema of Larchwood, IA; and daughter, Linda (Brad) Bosch of  Steen, MN; 15 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; sister, Esther (John) Van Otterloo; sisters-in-law, Alice  Kosters, Evelyn Bajema and Helen Bajema; nieces, nephews and other extended family members.

     Henrietta was preceded in death by her parents; husband Leonard; daughter-in-law, Twyla Bajema; son-in-law, Lyle Acheson; sister, Dorothy (John) Driesen; brother, Clarence (Klazina) Vander Sanden; sister, Mabel ( Leonard) Ver Mulm and Mabel’s second husband, Harold Ten Haken; Leonard’s siblings, Otto (Marlene) Bajema, Francis (Clarence) Dykstra, Irene (John) De Witt, Agnes (Marion) Horstman, Bernie (Mary) Bajema, Ron Bajema, Robert Bajema and brother-in-law Harold Kosters.