Obituary - Patricia (Moran) McKenzie
Betty McKenzie, 86, a longtime resident of Williston North Dakota died Monday April 30, 2018 at her daughter Sandra and husband Joe Zaste’s home in Boulder Montana.
Her Mass of Christian burial, with Fr. Russell Kovash officiating, will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Williston; Burial of her cremated remains will be in Riverview Cemetery immediately following the Funeral Mass. A reception will be held at TISA hall at in Trenton after the committal, 331 4th Ave E. Trenton ND. Please come and share your stories or a joke or two.
Friends may view pictures and sign a register book at Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 16 from 9:00 AM until 7:00 PM and for the hour preceding the service at the church on Thursday.
An Evening Vigil with Rosary will be held at 7:00 PM on Wednesday evening, May 16, at Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home in Williston.
Betty McKenzie was born July 17, 1932 in Poplar Montana, one of seven children. She was christened Patricia Betty Jane Moran by her parents David and Emma Moran. Her first home was on the family homestead eight miles west of Trenton and after few years the family moved into the town Trenton where they remained throughout Betty’s formative years.
May 21, 1949 in Plentywood MT Betty exchanged wedding vows and rings with Herman McKenzie. The marriage was blessed by St. John’s Catholic Church in Trenton the following year. The newlyweds set up house in Williston, ND where they raised their four children and remained committed to one another for forty two years.
Betty was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and was active in the women’s altar ban. She was a Brownie and Cub Scout leader when her kids were young. She was involved with the American Legion, VFW and Elks. Mercy hospital was touched by her involvement once she retired from the Hedderich Store where she worked in the dress department. While working in the store, Betty was kidded that she never got a pay check but her kids looked good.
Betty liked to garden and she enjoyed her vegetables. She was a crafter and held neighborhood garage sales at Christmas time. You may still have some of her holiday place mats. She was a talented seamstress a practical person and a sharer of her wisdom. Betty was a good friend and neighbor. She loved her family and the music and songs they played, sang and danced to. She took joy in life and liked corny jokes.
Preceding Betty in death were her husband, Herman McKenzie; parents, David and Emma Moran, and four siblings, Gertrude Wilkie, Dorothy St. Germaine, Lorraine Axelson and Walt Moran.
Surviving Betty are her children, David (Debbie) McKenzie of Trenton, ND and their five grown children, Shawn, Dana, Nathan, Jonas and Megan; Darryl (Nicky) McKenzie of Vancouver, WA and their two grown daughters, Mary and Gina; Daniel (Judy) McKenzie of Bakersfield, CA and there three grown children, Kristin, Victor and Ben; Sandra (Joe) Zaste of Boulder, MT and their two grown children, Zachariah and Jennifer; twenty four great-grandchildren and two great-great-grand babies. “Come let Grandma hold you” were often on her lips. Leona Olson and Gary Moran are Betty’s surviving siblings.
Betty’s family would like to thank the TISA Home Care staff and Butte MT Hospice for their help and care. In lieu of flowers consider a donation to Hospice.