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Kathleen Frances (Sullivan) McKenzie,
02-24-2024

Kathleen Frances (Sullivan) McKenzie, 74, of Sioux Falls, SD, passed away on February 24, 2024. She was born on March 19, 1949, to James and Marion Sullivan in Mankato, MN.

They moved to Sioux Falls, SD when Kay was a young girl. She went to school at South Sioux Elementary then to Christ the King and graduated from O’Gorman High School in 1967. She went on to graduate with her Registered Nursing degree from Presentation College in Aberdeen, SD. She started working as a RN at McKennan Hospital. In 1972 she married J. Robert (Skip) McKenzie. In April of 1978 they welcomed their child John David McKenzie in Big Spring, Texas. Kay then moved back to Sioux Falls and continued her Psychology Nursing profession. Kay went back to school at USD receiving her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and she joined a practice as an independent Counselor. She then went on to work in counseling at Avera Behavioral Health where she worked until she retired in 2018.

Kay was a beautiful woman who cared about everyone’s happiness. She was especially proud of her biggest achievement in life, her son, John. Her faith and her family were her biggest priorities. Kay loved to sing, read mystery books, fine dining, animals (especially her Sammy boy), and being surrounded by the people she loved.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents: James and Marion Sullivan; grandparents: James and Dorothy Sullivan, Harold and Dorothy McGath; brother: John Patrick Sullivan; sister: Colleen Van Engen; nephew: Joseph Fleming; great- nephew: Tristen Mille; and is survived by her son: John David (Austin, TX); siblings: Mary Fleming (Knoxville, TN), Tracy (John) Halverson (Sioux Falls, SD), James (Kristin) Sullivan (Eau Claire, WI), Michelle Bruns (Kelvin Hanssen) (Sioux Falls, SD), Jacqueline (Scott) Hult (Sioux Falls, SD), Mark Sullivan (Sioux Falls, SD), Thomas (Marty) and Sullivan (Brookings, SD); 28 nieces and nephews; 40 great-nieces and nephews, many aunts, uncles and cousins, as well as others that have joined this family through marriage.

Visitation with family present will Thursday, February 29, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home.