Elton Osenga, age 81 of Bejou, MN, died Friday, March 27, 2009 at St. Mary's Regional Hospital in Detroit Lakes, MN.

Elton Perry was born May 19, 1927 at home in Gregory Township, rural Bejou, MN, the son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Vander Plaats) Osenga. He attended grade school in Bejou and graduated from Mahnomen High School with the class of 1945. Following high school, Elton joined the United States Navy. After an honorable discharge in July of 1946, Elton furthered his education at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. He worked at General Electric in Minneapolis for a time before being transferred to Syracuse, NY. After several years, Elton moved to Hoboken, NJ, where he worked in a United States Postal Distribution Center. Upon his retirement, he moved back to Bejou, where he has lived since.

Elton was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bejou and was active with the adult Bible study. He was also an avid reader and enjoyed music and walking anywhere he needed to go.

Elton is survived by two brothers, Stan (Shirley) Osenga of Phoenix, AZ, and Sonny (Diane) Osenga of Bejou; two sisters, Carolyn (Jake) Van't Land of Inwood, IA, and Betty (Marion) Van Someren of Edina, MN; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother, LeRoy.

Blessed be the memory of Elton Perry Osenga.

Funeral Services for Elton were held Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 11 am at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bejou led by Pastor Nathan Baker-Trinity. Visitation was held Monday, March 30th from 5-7 pm with a prayer service at 6:30 pm at the Anderson~Mattson Funeral Home in Mahnomen, MN. Special Music was provided by Naomi Steinmetz accompanied by Jennifer Baker-Trinity. Serving as pallbearers were Andy Osenga, Adam McCollum, Christopher Skjold, Anne Skjold, Mary Osenga and Carolyn Osenga. Honorary Bearers were Elaine Osenga, Susan Hintze, Jonell Addison, Jay Van't Land, Calvin Van't Land, Clinton Van't Land and Jon Van't Land. Burial was in the Bejou City Cemetery, Bejou, MN.