NEW ULM–Rachel (Haverkamp) MacKay entered the presence of her Lord and Savior on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Rachel was born October 9, 1948 in Akron, Ohio to Clifford and Leona Haverkamp. She is the second of four daughters born into the Haverkamp household. Rachel loved the annual Haverkamp sisters’ reunions each summer with Robin, Carol, and Nan, taking them on adventures to the Middle East, Colorado, Idaho, and the lakes of Minnesota. Rachel graduated from Washington High School in 1966 after the family relocated to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She went on to attend and graduate from the University of Iowa, where she played the drum with the Scottish Highlanders band and joined Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

Rachel married Donald MacKay, Jr. in 1979 and together they have two daughters, Chloe and Anna. The family lived in Iowa and Louisiana before settling in Minnetonka, Minnesota. It was her delight to stay home with her girls until returning to the teaching field – as a paraprofessional and sixth grade teacher for Minnetonka Schools and then as a guidance counselor for Southwest Christian High School in Chaska, Minnesota. Rachel also earned a master’s degree in counseling and psychotherapy and served others as a life coach. Rachel dedicated her career to education, coaching, and inspiring others to their highest potential. After retirement, Rachel moved to New Ulm, Minnesota, where she found a loving community and sisters in Christ. She raised her girls reading beautiful children’s books and shared that legacy with her nine grandchildren, who will fondly remember her bag of books to read aloud, her collection of Barbies and Hot Wheels, and her back rubs. She was an advocate for the underdog and critical thinking. She loved Jesus and his word with a deep faith and longing for all to be made right with the world. She found beauty all around her – collecting bits of nature on her walks, through the details of a beautifully decorated holiday table, and in the lovely gardens that surrounded each of her homes. Even into her final days she was spreading joy with her sense of humor and gratefulness.

Rachel is preceded in death by her loving parents, Clifford and Leona, and by her precious granddaughter, Ivy Faith Friese, whom she looked forward to joining in Heaven. She is survived by her daughters and their husbands: Chloe and Matt Hilden, and Anna and Steve Friese, grandchildren: Evelyn, Asher, Naomi, Arden, Isaiah, Samuel, Gideon, and Ephraim, and her three sisters.

A private, graveside service will be held on Friday, May 23rd. The family would love to receive cards sharing your love and memories of Rachel. They can be addressed to The Family of Rachel MacKay, c/o Cedar Memorial, 4200 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

In lieu of flowers we ask that you consider a gift to one of the organizations that Rachel passionately supported: Ivy House in New Ulm, Minnesota, Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan or Summit Ministries in Manitou Springs, Colorado.

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