Dietrick Lee McKenzie

Dietrick Lee (Butter) McKenzie passed away peacefully Tuesday morning October 1, 2024 at his home in White Bear Lake with his family by his side.

Dietrick was born on Tuesday morning, December 5, 1972 in Des Moines, Iowa, and then moved to Minnesota. He grew up in Saint Paul, where he was raised by his loving parents Deborah and Tony Davis.

In March 2000, Dietrick and Jacqui were introduced by their best friends Negil Neely and Shantelle Collins and experienced an immediate bond that could not be broken. Dietrick and Jacqui were soulmates; he was the butter to her bread.

In December 2000, he asked for her father's permission and proposed to her the morning of December 24, 2000. Dietrick and Jacqui were united in Marriage on October 14, 2006.

Dietrick worked hard to earn his state high school diploma and later attended Dakota Technical and Community College for Commercial Driving through the Teamster's Apprenticeship program; he graduated May 2016.

Dietrick was a painter for fifteen plus years while building a family business, McKenzie5Painting. He always worked hard to provide for his family. Dietrick had a deep passion for driving trucks and started his driving career in the summer of 2016. Dietrick persevered through the next few years with health issues undergoing a double-lung transplant in January 2019. He returned to driving trucks again in the fall of 2019.

Dietrick was a fun-loving and all-around awesome man, known for his huge heart. His vibrant personality and kindness left a lasting impact on friends and family alike, spreading happiness wherever he went.

Of everything in life, Dietrick’s greatest joy and love was his family. He was an amazing husband, a hero to his kids. He loved being an uncle and was especially close to Brandon McKenzie and Brianna McKenzie.

There's so much more that should be said, but in the end, what he did was make our world brighter.

God blessed us with his presence for an additional five years. With the help from family and friends Dietrick was able to watch his son grow into a man, see all three of his kids graduate high school, and turn the age of 21.

Those left to honor his memory are his wife, together for 24 years Jacqui; his children Kayla, Lila and Dietrick Jr McKenzie; parents Deborah and Tony Davis; siblings Tony McKenzie, Kent (Michael) Bates, Anthony Davis and Antwan Davis; Nieces and Nephews Brandon McKenzie, Brianna McKenzie, Jackson Bates, Allan Dallin, Keiran Johnson, Grace Bates, Alex Dallin, and several more; and great-niece Saniya Lee White.

A Celebration of Life service to honor Butter's life will be held on Saturday October 12, 2024, at Wulff Funeral Home (1485 White Bear Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55106) at 12 p.m. with visitation an hour prior.