Janis Sue Kana-Mackey was born December 7, 1954 in Grafton, ND to Oliver “Taft” and Elizabeth Margaret (Stavert) Kana. She was raised in Grafton and graduated from GHS in 1973. In 1976 she graduated from the University of North Dakota (UND) with a degree in English. She graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary (ATS), Wilmore, KY in 1979 with a Master of Divinity degree. In 1980 she was ordained in the United Methodist Church (UMC) of North Dakota, and in 1981, she was a pastor-scholar at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. On February 25, 1982, she was united in marriage to Ronald Mackey in Seattle, Washington. After living for a short period in Starkweather, they moved to the family farm in rural Hampden in 1985, where they lived until their passing. They have two sons: Travis Jean (T.J.), born in 1984, and Kyle Taft, born in 1987.

While in high school, Sue was a member of the National Honor Society, a member of the GHS marching band, and a class officer. While in college, she was involved in Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, UND Women’s Chorus, and on the curriculum committee of the English department. At ATS, she was senior class president and a reporter for the school paper. During her ministry in the Dakotas Conference of the UMC, she served on several conference committees and served on the National Board of Discipleship, Nashville, Tennessee from 1980-1988. During her career as an ordained minister, she served as pastor of Starkweather UMC, Hampden UMC, Edmore UMC, Michigan United Church of Christ (UCC), Lakota UCC, Michigan Lutheran, Sarnia (Whitman) Lutheran, and Langdon Presbyterian Church – her most recent calling. During this time, she also served as pulpit supply for various church denominations in the communities of Edmore, Fairdale, Lawton, Nekoma, Stump Lake, and Walhalla. In her later years, she became an active member of the Devils Lake Elks Community Band and Langdon Community Band, enjoying their performances for local community events and holidays. Her primary interests included reading books, watching movies, listening to music, and playing her baritone horn.

Sue is survived by her son Travis Mackey and his wife Sarah (Svihl), their children William Oliver, Grace Othelia, and Henry Lincoln; her son Kyle Mackey and his wife Amber (O’Meara), their children Olivia Elmae Bredeson, Regan Rose, Freya Marie, and Ronald Patrick; her sisters Jane (John) Borland, Marit (Joe) Vamarasi, and Jody Foster; her brother John “Jack” Kana and his wife Sonja; and many nieces, nephews, and close friends.

Sue was preceded in death by her mother Margaret (1971) and her father Oliver (1987), an infant brother (1953), her brother-in-law John Borland (2010), her brother-in-law LeRoy Stamer (2016), her brother-in-law Ralph Mackey (2021), her husband Ronald (2021), her brother-in-law Robert Mackey (2022), her sister Jill Stamer (2023), her niece Marit Kana (2024), and her brother-in-law Joe Vamarasi (2025).

Sue will be remembered for her deep faith, her steady presence, and her unwavering devotion to her family and community. Blessed be her memory.

Funeral services will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Langdon, ND on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be held at the church on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. A private burial will be held at the Storlie Cemetery of rural Hampden, ND, following the funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Funeral services will be broadcast locally by KNDK 1080 AM and audiostreamed directly through the KNDK 1080 AM website.