Obituary of Nancy Ann McKenzie

Nancy Ann McKenzie, 83, of Cloquet, MN, passed away June 21, 2018 at Community Memorial Hospital. Nancy was born May 25, 1935 to John and Esther (Hietala) Leste in Duluth, MN. Nancy attended Arnold School and graduated from Duluth Central in 1953. She was Miss Duluth in 1954 and runner-up in the Miss Minnesota pageant. Nancy retired from Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. She was a member of the Minnesota Finnish American Historical Society and was very proud of her Finnish heritage. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, brother Jim Leste, sister Joyce Smith, former husband and best friend Gary McKenzie, and granddaughter Jennifer Van Dake. Nancy is survived by her daughter Laurel Lamb (Danny), Lecanto, FL, sister Mary Sorensen, Duluth, brother Tom Leste (Barb Nichols), Proctor, sister-in-law Barb Martin (Greg), Duluth, granddaughter Nancy Williams-Fransen and her husband Jarrod, Brookston, grandson Alex Lamb (Valeree Hartel), Culver, great-grandchildren Joshua Yeaton, Duluth, Jacob Yeaton (fiancé Taylor), Duluth, Gillian Fransen and Molly Fransen, Brookston, and many nieces, nephews and friends. Special thanks to the staff of Evergreen Knoll and CMH for their kind and compassionate care. A memorial service will be held Friday, June 29th at 3:00 p.m. at Cremation Society of Minnesota, 4100 Grand Ave., Duluth, MN with a visitation beginning one hour prior.