McKenzie Maureen Sweeney

McKenzie Maureen Sweeney, 40, passed away in Missoula, Montana, on May 15, 2023, after a long struggle with addiction. McKenzie was born on July 22, 1982 in Great Falls, MT to Neill and Patti (Nordeng) Sweeney. She grew up on the family’s farm and ranch near Belt. McKenzie attended Belt School from Kindergarten through 12th grade and was smart as a whip, as she eventually graduated High School in 2000 as the class Valedictorian. She went on to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana (2004) and a Master’s from the University of Chicago (2005). At the time of her death she was back in her element at school, studying a Master’s online at MSU-Billings. She was a lifelong learner and an avid reader. Growing up on the farm, she looked forward to her cousins coming to Belt for the summer, especially Megan Elliot. Another highlight was her time spent at McKenzie Bay (where she got her name) in North Dakota with her grandmother and cousins. She loved the first video camera we got and wasn’t in as much footage as the other siblings because she was always filming. She was the star of many family plays. McKenzie was a gifted musician. She took piano lessons from her great aunt Lucille Chesbro until 12th grade, making it to state music festival each year with piano and clarinet solos. She made it to the All-Northwest Choir in Seattle and All-State Band. After high school, music remained a huge part of her life. She was in both concert band and the top choir at UM, and entertained family and friends with her guitar over many a campfire. In 2010 she married Quentin Ring in Claremont, California. Although they later divorced, they remained close friends until the end of her life. McKenzie had an incredibly kind heart and felt things very deeply. She is survived by her parents, Neill and Patti Sweeney of Belt, sister Molly (Ben) Bock of Belt, brothers Sam (Erbil, Iraq) and Joe (Bozeman), nieces June and Carmen Bock and nephews Riley and Brady Bock, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins in Montana, North Dakota, and beyond. She was preceded in death by grandfather J. Clayton Sweeney of Belt in 2006 and grandmother Adeline Nordeng of Watford City, North Dakota, in 2016. Family and friends are invited to celebrate McKenzie’s life at the family farm near Belt on Friday, May 26, at 3pm after a private ceremony for family at the Belt Cemetery. She will missed by everyone who knew her.