In Loving Memory

Ilze Kačevska

(AKA Ilze McMacken)

August 9, 1970 - April 19, 2024

Ilze Kačevska passed over to the spirit world on the afternoon of April 19th, 2024 at Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota. She was fifty-three years old and had lived in Rapid City the majority of her adult life.

Ilze was born on August 9th, 1970 in Jelgava, Latvia to Irena Ezeriete Kačevskis and Juris Kačevskis. She grew up during the Soviet occupation of Latvia, a very difficult era for Latvians. Early on, she demonstrated a love for athletics, travel (especially family trips to the Baltic Sea), nature in all its diversity, animals of every kind, and music. She trained as a concert pianist at an early age.

Ilze graduated from Jelgava Secondary School No. 4 and the Jelgava Music school. As part of the Latvian National Women's Choir (named "Dzintars," meaning amber in Latvian) she traveled in Europe and was able to come to America to perform in California. Her love for America began on that trip.

An American uncle, Dr. Paul Dzintars of Rapid City, invited Ilze to live with him and his wife Rida Dzintars so she could learn English. Ilze attended one year at Stevens High School (1990-91) before her acceptance to Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota. In her first year there, she achieved the highest academic ranking in her class. She graduated in 1995 with a B.S. degree in Business Administration.

At college, Ilze met James McMacken. After graduating, they married and she moved with him to Tucson, Arizona. Despite a hopeful start, the marriage did not last. After a divorce, she moved back to Rapid City.

Throughout her life, Ilze was a passionate advocate for the mind-body benefits of yoga and other holistic practices. In 2004, she received formal training in California to earn her Yoga Instructor national certification from instructors with a close lineage to Paramahansa Yogananda. In Rapid City, she taught yoga at various studios over many years, specialized in private yoga sessions with couples, children's groups, and held classes at the YMCA in Rapid City since 2007.

She worked three years as a Paraprofessional at Horace Mann Elementary as a representative for a Title VI Federal program assisting Native American students with their cultural needs and encouraging their success. As an added school activity, she created and led a morning exercise program "Rise and Shine".

She started her own company Rama Wellness in 2018, offering private yoga, reiki sessions, and therapeutic nature hikes with yoga.

Later in 2018, she took a position with Meadowbrook Elementary as a Special Education Paraprofessional, working with autistic and special needs children to help them navigate their way through studies and school days. She was invested in each of her students and their unique challenges. She enjoyed seeing them grow and expand their abilities. This passion for engaging and teaching came easily to Ilz

Summers often found Ilze working at Under Canvas, an outdoor tourism/accommodation business near Keystone, South Dakota, as a guest concierge and yoga instructor. She developed guided "Stroll & Stretch" tours beyond the campground that were popular with visitors.

Ilze also worked at the Youth & Family Services and Wellfully organizations, helping local students and youth.

Ilze loved venturing out into the Black Hills and finding secluded areas to meditate and do yoga, sometimes inviting friends along. Hiking on trails and swimming in the small lakes of the Hills were favorite pastimes during the warmer months. She loved to introduce new friends to special places in the area. As a Latvian tradition, she would invite her friends to celebrate her "Name Day" every January with her by enjoying group activities such as sledding, ax throwing, riding go-carts, painting pottery, and cross-country skiing. Laughter was the prevailing goal, and Ilze loved being surrounded by friends. On June 14th of 2023 she proudly became a United States citizen, making her a dual national.

As often as she could, Ilze would travel back to Riga, Latvia to visit family and friends. She adored spending time with her two young great-nieces. Her most recent visits were in August 2021 and September 2022. She visited many wonderful places including a memorable trip to Dubai, UAE with her sister. Ilze would sometimes say she "lived like a millionaire" despite her lack of millions, if measured by the travel, adventure, unique experiences and treasured friendships that enriched her life. Her ability to share joy and wonder wherever she went was her gift to the world.

Ilze is survived by her sister, Guna Miskarova; her nephew and his family, Edgars Miskarovs, Lauma Birzniece, Šarlote Miskarova (8 yrs), Anete Miskarova (4 yrs); her cousin, Māris Ezerietis and his family; Charlie Skele and his family; her partner, Greg Geiger; and her beloved cat, Mikki. She is preceded in death by her parents, Irena Ezeriete and Juris Kačevskis.

Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life, to be held at 2pm on June 20th, 2024 at Open Heart United Methodist Church, 202 E. Indiana St, Rapid City, SD.

In lieu of flowers, and should friends desire, donations to help with memorial expenses may be made at: https://gofund.me/b4364d14

Ilze's family and her wide circle of friends should remember the joy and reward she got from the many things she loved: from animals (especially the felines), from her great appreciation of the beauty of nature, from her willingness to embrace any adventure that opened new horizons, and from her kind and caring involvement with everyone she knew. Her fun and youthful spirit will endure eternally.