Rita Laura Mackenzie

Rita Laura (Albrecht) MacKenzie was born March 22, 1935 in Natoma, Kansas on their families farm, and passed away December 21, 2013 while living out her life with family in Napa, California. She was one of eight children of Dietrich Carl and Pauline Emma (Maier) Albrecht. Rita graduated from Natoma High School and at the age of 18 she moved to Denver, Colorado to live with one of her sisters to help take care of her sisters children and go to school. Rita went to school for typing, keypunch and shorthand, finding work as a legal secretary. In 1954 she married, an year later moved to Texas. In May of 1960, she then returned to Denver for personal reasons working for various companies in data entry, where she ultimately retired from Denver General Hospital. There she was working in the infectious disease section of the hospital as a desk clerk.

Rita loved traveling, visiting family, being outdoors and most of all loved Denver. She was a Denver sports fan through and through, while never tiring of telling others of how great Denver was, and how everyone ought to move there.

She was preceded in death by her sister Mae Westover and brothers Vic, Robert and Martin Albrecht as well as by her long time life companion, most of us knew as "Gramps", John Everett Mendoza. She was survived by her sisters Ida Ellitot of Natoma, Kansas, Dorothy McCarthy of Houston, Texas, Mable Sommerdorf of Napa, California, her children Debra Madison of Napa, California, Larry MacKenzie of Niles, Michigan, Christopher Burton of Aurora, Colorado, Michelle Keller of Castle Rock, Colorado and Step-son John R. Mendoza of Westminster, Colorado, as well as by many many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Rita had a personality that could take on any one, quick witted, sparky disposition, with a big heart, treating everyone like they were family. She will be greatly missed! Services will be held at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakewood Colorado January 8th at 2:00 pm, and also January 10th in Natoma Kansas at the Natoma Cemetery for a graveside service at 1:30 pm. If donations wish to be made, please make them to the American Heart Association in her name.

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