Leonard Bajema, 86, Hills, died Tuesday, June 14, 2005, at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. Services were Friday, June 17, at Steen Reformed Church in Steen. The Rev. Dan Ramaker officiated. Burial was at Eastside Cemetery in Steen. Leonard Bajema was born to Barney and Joanna (Vanden Bosch) Bajema on Dec. 11, 1918, at Rock Valley, Iowa. He grew up in the Rock Valley area and attended Christian School.He married Henrietta Vander Sanden on Feb. 22, 1945, at the home of her parents. Following their marriage they farmed with his father near Rock Valley for two years. In 1947 they moved to Hills when they bought their own farm. He loved farming and took great pride in raising his crops and livestock. In 1995 they moved to Hills. He moved to Tuff Memorial Home in Hills in February 2005. Mr. Bajema was a member of Steen Reformed Church where he served as an usher. He and his wife enjoyed traveling south for the winter and spent two years in Texas in their camper and 13 years in Arizona. Survivors include his wife, Henrietta Bajema, Hills; four children, Duane (Janet) Bajema, Sioux Center, Iowa, Barbara (Lyle) Acheson, Madison, S.D., Rodney (Twyla) Bajema, Larchwood, Iowa, and Linda (Brad) Bosch, Steen; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Bernie Bajema, Phoenix, Ariz., Ronald (Evelyn) Bajema, Rock Valley, and Robert (Helen) Bajema, Sioux Falls, S.D.; and four sisters, Frances Dykstra, Sioux Center, Irene (John) DeWitt and Alice (Harold) Kosters, all of Rock Valley, and Agnes Horstman, Sanborn, Iowa.Mr. Bajema was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Otto, a sister-in-law, Marlene Bajema, and two brothers-in-law, Clarence Dykstra and Marion Horstman.Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital will plant a tree in memory of Leonard Bajema. Roste Funeral Home, Hills, was in charge of arrangements.
