Anthony Wade Boyenga, 31, Ellsworth, died Saturday, June 22, 2019, in the Rock River near Rivers Bend Campground, Rock Valley, Iowa, as the result of a heart attack.
A Mass of Christian burial was Thursday, June 27, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. Burial followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery near Ellsworth.
Anthony Boyenga was born on March 25, 1988, to Dennis and Amy (Jenniges) Boyenga in Luverne. He was raised on the family dairy farm 1/4 mile west of Ellsworth. Right away as a child, he enjoyed all aspects of farm life. Tony attended school in Luverne and graduated from Luverne High School in 2006. He then continued his education at Ridgewater College in Willmar and graduated from their Production Ag program in 2008. He returned home to join the family farming operation.
On March 24, 2012, Tony married Megan Johnson at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellsworth, and they made their home on a farm three miles west of town.
Tony deeply cared for his five children. Tony often had a couple of helpers by his side. His children could be found learning life lessons about hard work through chores, respect for the animals and land, and the value of family connectedness when they shared the never-ending fencing projects and family bonfires in the pasture.
Tony was a farmer and loved every aspect of it. Whether it be time spent with the dairy cattle or time spent in the fields with crops, putting in hard work came easy for him. Tony’s real passion in farming came with raising his beef cattle, and in 2013 he built and began operating a cattle confinement.
Tony enjoyed working with youth and recently was elected vice president of the Luverne Wrestling Association. He served on the Kanaranzi Little Rock Watershed Board. He was very compassionate with a strong sense of faith. He was also known for his sarcasm and wit.
Tony is survived by his wife, Megan; five children, Rayden, Coyer, Hazyl, Levicy and Bronly; his parents, Dennis and Amy Boyenga of Ellsworth; siblings Trista Boyenga of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Kori (Nick) Petersen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Reka (AJ) deBoer of Sheldon, Iowa; parents-in-law Dean and Patricia Johnson of Sisseton, South Dakota; sister-in-law Machenzie (Mike) Wickre of St. Michael; nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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