Corinne (Corey) Mae Erwin

OBITUARY - Corinne (Corey) Mae Monson Erwin

September 26, 1953 - January 12, 2021

Corinne "Corey" Mae (Monson) Erwin, Buffalo, ND, formerly Herdon, VA, passed away at Sanford Health, Fargo, ND, on January 12, 2021, after having suffered a massive heart condition. Committal of Cory's ashes, along with those of her brother, Thomas "Tom", and mother, Willa Mae "Billie" will be held at 11:00 AM, August 10, 2024, at St. Thomas Cemetery, rural Litchville, ND.

Corey was born in Valley City, North Dakota on September 26th,1953, to Willa Mae "Billie" (Middlestead) and Lowell Monson on September 26, 1953. Having spent her first few years on several rural farmsteads her family settled in Litchville, ND, where she attended elementary and high school having established some lifetime friendships that she often fondly recalled in conversation. Corey graduated in 1971 from LHS and explored careers in other parts of the country, eventually becoming established in the Washington DC area where she began a lifelong career in Federal Service. It was there that she met and married Randy Erwin and they had one son, Seth, who was her priority from that time forward. In trying to maintain some sort of social activity after she and Randy divorced, she enrolled in dance classes where she met Martin Nicholes (Nick) who became her significant partner from then on. When older sister, Barb "BJ", died in 1998, Corey became the glue and guide of the Lowell & Billie family and was very conscious of keeping the immediate family connected to her larger extended family. She arranged her yearly vacation back to ND to coincide with local family events to assure Lowell, Billie, and Tom, could remain involved with family activities in the area. When Lowell died in 2012 she began plans to retire and return to ND. Despite her employer convincing her to stay on for several more projects, she was able to finally end her formal work career in 2015 and return to ND where her search for a new residence landed her in Buffalo, ND, along with Nick who felt ND might be a new adventure and where they could continue their partnership.

Seth had already moved from the DC area to ND and made residence with his Grandma, Billie, in Litchville. Corey's new residence in Buffalo put her in close contact with family and she was so looking forward to once again being there for them and simply enjoying time away from the craziness of the big city work world that consumed her entire formal work career. She had not only been very dedicated to her career performance with the FEDs but was extremely noted as such within that circle. She hardly had time to settle in when her brother, Marlowe, died, leaving her with his estate to handle as well as caring for the needs of her elderly mom and brother Tom. She brought her Mom to Buffalo to live with her and Nick but quickly assessed it would be better for Billie to still have her own residence in a place more suited for her and they found an assisted residence facility for her in nearby Valley City, where she would have her privacy, contact with others, and be close to Tom.

While making sure that Billie and Tom's needs were in place, she was trying to connect with nephews and nieces that she had grown to adore and somehow found time to form new friendships as well as reconnecting with some friends from their early school days. The Buffalo church became a hub of activity for her where she enjoyed singing in the choir and quilting. On weekends she often found time to attend ole-time dances in the area, often including Billie in those events. When her Aunt Dorothy (Middlestead-Reinke) returned to ND to be close to Billie, after Dorothey's husband, Walter, died, Corey's caretaking circle grew as Billie and Dorothy enjoyed doing things together. Dorothy died in 2017 after which Corey shifted family time to what Billie often referred to as her "Monson-Family" by making monthly visits to the Heritage Assisted Living Center in Jamestown to join some of her "Monson family" in fellowship via playing dominos and celebrating birthdays for that particular month.

No question that Corey was a GIVER, CARETAKER, and GENEROUS person who was planning on being around for quite some time. But on January 12, 2021, she suffered a massive heart failure that took her from us despite the valiant attempts of Nick and the local rescue squad to revive her. While her loss is great for those who knew and loved her, the memories she made during her last years will always be cherished and remembered.

Corey is survived by her son Seth Erwin, Litchville, ND; long-term partner, Martin Nichols, West Fargo, ND; nephews and nieces, Brandon Krenz, Lewisville, TX; Lewis Renfro Jr. Casa Grande, AZ; Jacob Renfro, Maricopa, AZ; and Zelma Renfro, Casa Grande, AZ; great-nephews and great-nieces, Malaki, David, James, Steve, Riley, Louis, Neveah (Ethan), and Kaydence, Casa Grande, AZ; step-nephew, Josh Krenz, West Fargo, ND; step-niece, Cassandra Kramer, Lamoure, ND; Uncles and aunts, Rodney & Barbara Monson, Jamestown, ND; Edward & Jean Monson, Lakefield, MN; Dale & Virginia Monson, Mandan, ND; Lorne Monson, Fargo, ND; Arlyce Chadwick, Jamestown, ND; Lois Hofmann, Fargo, ND; Jude & Mark Monson/Cumming, Clinton, MT; Donna Monson, Marion, ND; Eileen Afdahl, Jamestown, ND; and Robert Miller, Spiritwood, ND. She is also survived by many cousins of subsequent Middlestead family lines.

Corey has no surviving brothers or sisters.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Lowell & Billie Monson, Litchville, ND; Grand Parents, Fred & Lydia Middlestead, Marion, ND; and Albert & Lillian (Lee) Monson, Marion, ND; her siters and brothers, Barbara Jane "BJ" Krenz, Flower Mound, TX; Marlowe Lowell Monson, Litchville, ND; Mavis Marie Renfro, Casa Grande, AZ; Robin Allen Monson, Litchville, ND, and Tom Monson, Enderlin, ND; brother-in-law, Les Krenz, Marion, ND; Great-niece, Sausha Renfro, Casa Grande, AZ; Uncles and aunts and their spouses: Hank & Eunice Middlestead, Valley City, ND; Rudy & Doris Middlestead, Bryan, TX; Alvina Shearer & Al Scoba & Clarence Crum, Helena, MT; Hulda Miller & Emil Koenig, Gackle, ND; Dorothy & Walter Reinke, Towsend, MT; Lee Middlestead, Marion, ND; Elizabeth Middlestead; Baby Boy Middlestead, Marion, ND; Wayne & Donna Monson, Jamestown, ND; Neldae & George Frank, Jamestown, ND; Marilyn & Robert Burkhardt, Jamestown, ND: Noelyn Monson, Litchville, ND; Allen Monson, Jamestown, ND; Richard Hofmann, Medina, ND; and Leonard Chadwick, Jamestown, ND.

Corey's ashes will be placed in the family plot at the St. Thomas Cemetery in rural Litchville, ND, on August 10, 2024, at 11:00 AM along with those of her brother, Tom, and mother, Billie. A luncheon and celebration of their lives will be held at the Litchville Community Center immediately following internment services. For those unfamiliar with the cemetery location a simple Goole Search will locate it for you: "St. Thomas Cemetery Litchville ND". All friends and family are invited to both or either event.