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Fred McKenzie, 98, formerly of Sioux Rapids and resident of Riverview Assisted living in Spencer, died Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Memorial services will take place Saturday, Sept. 28, at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Rapids. Burial will be in Lone Tree Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements.
Fred was born in rural Algona to William and Freda (Wessar) McKenzie Feb. 1, 1926. Fred graduated from Livermore High School in 1944, and was then drafted into the Navy. He served on the USS Albemarle until being honorably discharged in June 1946. He married Bettie Hughes of Livermore in February 1946. From this union, Michael, Scot, Barbara, Kathy and Russell were born. Fred continued his education and received his bachelor's in teaching at Drake University and his master's at Wayne State College. He was a teacher, coach and superintendent of schools in Wallace, Macy and Emerson-Hubbard in Nebraska, as well as Sioux Rapids, Ocheyden-Melvin and Albert City-Truesdale, until retiring in 1988.
Fred was a member of First Lutheran Church and Legion Post 394 in Sioux Rapids. He and wife Bettie enjoyed their retirement in Sioux Rapids and spent time visiting Mission, Texas, for many years. When Fred and Bettie were 95, they moved to Spencer. Fred moved into Riverview Assisted Living and Bettie moved into St. Luke's Nursing Home where they stayed until their deaths. Fred both enjoyed the new company made and the food that was always good! His favorite activities included visiting with friends, reading, dancing, playing cards, watching high school/college football and eating pie! He also enjoyed phone calls from his children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Les McKenzie and Bob (Alice) Twigg; sister Dorothy (Chuck) Clark; brother-in-law Louie Garman; son-in-law Hugh Cooper; and his wife, Bettie, whom he was married 77 years.
Left to cherish his memory includes his sister Freda Garman; sons: Mike (Becky) McKenzie of Florida; Scot (Mary) McKenzie of Minnesota; Russ (Tif) McKenzie of Wyoming; daughters: Barb Cooper of South Carolina; Kathy (Oren) Geisinger of Iowa; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; along with many other friends and relatives.
A special thank you to Avera Hospice, Riverview and St. Luke's who cared for Fred (and Bettie) during these last three years of life. The McKenzie family appreciates all you did and have done.
