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Henrietta Bajema

Lead Summary

Henrietta Bajema, 96, Hills, died Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.
A funeral service was at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at the Steen Reformed Church in Steen. Burial followed at the East Side Cemetery in Steen
Henrietta Vander Sanden was born Dec. 5, 1922, to John and Hermina (Wissink) Vander Sanden in Rock Valley, Iowa. She attended country school near Rock Valley. In her childhood Henrietta’s parents moved the family to the Martin, South Dakota, area to homestead. Times were hard for them. After many struggles, they moved back to Rock Valley. Henrietta learned the value of hard work, family and faith in Jesus Christ and to be optimistic. During World War II she and a girlfriend rode a train to Chicago to help in the war effort by making bandages and ammunition.
On Feb. 22, 1947, Henrietta married Leonard Bajema at her parents’ home near Rock Valley.  The young couple moved several places before settling on a farm west of Hills, 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 and then as a food product demo person at Randall’s 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. She also enjoyed cooking.
Her positive attitude carried Henrietta through her many health challenges.  Starting in her 30s, she battled breast cancer several times and faced multiple major surgeries.
Henrietta is survived by her children, Duane (Jan) Bajema of Sioux Center, Iowa, Barb (Lyle) Weidenbach of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Rod (Sue) Bajema of Larchwood, Iowa, and Linda (Brad) Bosch of Steen; 15 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; a sister, Esther (John) Van Otterloo; sisters-in-law Alice Kosters, Evelyn Bajema and Helen Bajema; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Henrietta was preceded in death by her parents; her 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.
Arrangements were provided by Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills, jurrensfuneralhome.com.
(0815 F)

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