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This timeline was created to help collect memories of our grandmother Bella McKenzie, who was a friend to all. Bella was born on a farm in McCluskey, ND and died at her home in Albuquerque, NM. We hope you will help us remember and share the dash in the middle where she was so important to so many.
Family and friends
Connor McKenzie
Connor McKenzie
Connor McKenzie Lex and Rachel took a trip to New Mexico.
Connor McKenzie Connor was born to Bella and Jack
Connor McKenzie Bill, Lex, and new baby brother Connor
Connor McKenzie Bella and Lex were play shopping and (on a dare) she tried on this crazy outfit!
Connor McKenzie Bella and Lex
Connor McKenzie
Connor McKenzie
Connor McKenzie Family trip to CA and Disneyland
Tish Resnik Bella was my friend, my mentor and always had time to share. She and I had many things in common, one of which is we are both from a family of twelve children. She was a no nonsense person who had no problem being honest. However she always spoke with kindness and love. Thank you, Bella. I love you❤️
Julie March Bella, Jack, Bill, Jim & Jimmy enjoying the balloons.
Julie March Bella, Jack and Bill having fun with Jim and Jimmy.
Julie March Bella isn't in this photo, but I can still hear her laughing when she looked over from the kitchen to see that Miranda was teaching Jimmy to make black olive fingers. So much fun at the McKenzie house over the years.
Julie March Bella was so generous with her talents! Our son Jimmy LOVED The Wiggles and wanted to be Dorothy the Dinosaur for Halloween. Bella studied up on Dorothy, took us to the fabric store and created the PERFECT costume, down to the rose on her hat! ❤
Annamarie Luna Jax's baby quilt -we really do quilt.
Julie March Bella, Jack, Connor, Jim & Jimmy enjoying a swim and dinner. We loved Bella's delicious meals!
Julie March Swimming at Jack and Bella's was always fun! This is Jim and Jimmy March
Susan Albright Bella with Nestor, Carol , Miriam and Susan at retirement party for Nancy Jo Archer
Annamarie Luna Trey and Bella
Annamarie Luna Birthday dinners
Annamarie Luna Cassie's confirmation dinner
Annamarie Luna Sarah's wedding
Annamarie Luna
Annamarie Luna Isotopes
Annamarie Luna
Annamarie Luna Marissa's wedding
Annamarie Luna
Annamarie Luna
Annamarie Luna
Annamarie Luna
Annamarie Luna Paint night
Annamarie Luna Paint night
Annamarie Luna One more upload
Annamarie Luna Book club in Santa Fe
Julie March Bella celebrating Jimmy's birthday.
Julie March Bella celebrating Erin Livermore's birthday with the March and Aicher families. We loved her company and miss her terribly.
Julie March Bella celebrating Diane Aicher's birthday.
Annamarie Luna Always up for a party.
Patrick Ward Thanksgiving pie making on Wednesday afternoon! Bella made the best pie crust in the world
Julie March A fun Thanksgiving visit with Bella, Miranda, Bill and Jimmy.
Nori Yonack These pictures are from two different years. Going to the Santa Fe Opera was a highlight for all of us. We enjoyed tailgating before the opera and had a wonderful evening!!
Connor McKenzie Miranda's College Graduation! And hidden photo booth shots with Bella
Julie March Bella playing Heads Up! on New Year's Eve. Lots of laughs!
Becky Horner Bella loved a family gathering. We were celebrating at Amanda’s wedding last summer in Fargo. We managed to get Bella, Mary Lou, Ed and Alan together for a photo. They agreed it wasn’t complete without their sisters-in-laws; Dianne and Norma.
Nori Yonack Jasper
Annamarie Luna At a sidewalk cafe near the Eiffel Tower with Deb.
Patrick Ward A toast at a corner bistro! We love Paris every moment!
Patrick Ward Oops! One more of just the girls in Paris!
Patrick Ward The 4 of us in Paris for New Year's 2022!
Words escape me… Bella was a bright light in my life. We spoke daily and sometimes more frequently than that because there was always something to share. Her laugh and kind loving words echo in my memory and will never be forgotten. We had plans… Including lemon bars and peanut brittle for the holidays. She was going to teach me the peanut brittle...
Patrick Ward Restaurant in the Guggenheim Museum with a special "fish present" for our table! One of the best meals we ate plus a bottle of wine for me and Bella!
Patrick Ward We're just practicing in Madrid before our flamenco performance in Sevilla! I have so many memories of Bella over the 40 years we've know each other. It's hard to believe Bella, Bill, Pat and I walked all over Paris and Spain just months before she passed. I can't imagine not having her in my life.
Julie March Bella and Jimmy. This boy loves her so much.
So many memories with this beautiful friend. She was such a big part of our lives. Her loss is so great and my heart is so heavy. She loved us unconditionally, truly enjoyed all the moments we shared, never made us for guilty for absence and was always up for a get together. I wasn't ready for her to leave and will desperately miss her in mine,...
Annamarie Luna
Annamarie Luna
Annamarie Luna
Annamarie Luna
Annamarie Luna
Jeanette Montaño I miss you so much
Bella was a dear friend. We always felt we were destined to be friends because our paths crossed in so many different ways. I will miss our talks, our problem solving and, I must admit, our frequent resorting to laughing like teenagers. She was a very special, smart, creative, kind and loving woman. There will be an empty space in my life.
Bella was the best listener I have ever known. She always responded with appropriate info and often with humor. I loved her voice, the gap between her two front teeth and all of her. There is a hole in my heart.