Elna Mackenzie

Elna Mackenzie, 87, of Jamestown, ND died Friday, March 31, 2023, in Eventide at Hi-Acres.

Elna was born on February 29, 1936, in Halliday, ND, the daughter of Jacob and Magdalena Weisenberger. Elna attended school in Halliday where she participated in basketball, track and field, and cheerleading. After graduating from high school, she attended Dickinson State Teacher’s College where she received her AA degree in Education. She taught school in Froid, MT, until 1958.

She and Charles A. MacKenzie were married August 14, 1958, in Greeley, CO.  They moved to Manderson, WY, where Charles was employed as the district music teacher and Elna as a substitute teacher. During this time both of their daughters were born. In 1964 they moved back to Jamestown where they helped run the family business of Mac’s Restaurant and both Elna and Charles worked for the Pingree School District. In 1968 Elna completed her BA in Education at Valley City State College and was hired by the Jamestown School District where she taught sixth grade at Lincoln and later Washington Elementary until her retirement in May 1997. During her career she was active in JEA, Delta Kappa Gamma, and later Retired Teachers Association.  She enjoyed playing league volleyball and bowling as well as horseback riding.

Elna is survived by her daughters Peggie (Terry) Rigoni, of Prescott, AZ; and Pamela (Jon) Licha, of San Antonio, NM; 5 grandchildren, Haley, Ian, Carlie, Leah, and Hannah; 2 great-grandchildren, and her brother Jim (Sherryl) Weisenberger of Grand Forks, ND. She is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Charles, her brother Raymond, and her sisters Verna, Lucille and Karen.