Monica Mae Downs

Monica M. Downs, 60, of Fosston, MN died Friday, November 14, 2025.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00 pm, Sunday, November 23, 2025 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wilton, MN.
Monica was born March 15, 1965 in Bemidji, MN to James and Rita Downs. Monica enjoyed attended St. Philip's Catholic School and graduated from Bemidji High School. After graduation she attended the College of St. Scholastica earning degrees in Biology, Chemistry, and Medical Technology. She worked and managed Hospital Laboratories in Texas, Hawaii, Arizona, Alaska, and Minnesota. She was currently employed at Essentia Health in Fosston, MN.
Monica was lucky to have a mid-life retirement from age 37-47. She and her husband, Kory, were fortunate to travel the world extensively. They camped in all 50 states and all the Canadian Provinces. They traveled through every county of Ireland and every province of Turkey. They spent six months backpacking from Sudan to South Africa going on over a dozen safaris and crisscrossing 15 countries. Their travels totaled them over 60 countries.
Monica enjoyed fishing, snow skiing, 4 wheeling, scuba diving, and high topping. Monica loved Christmas. For the past decade at work she wore brightly colored Christmas work uniforms decorated with Christmas lights and jingle bells. She had a huge pre1965 Christmas decoration collection, including more than 20 glass Christmas trees. She enjoyed long walks, especially with her dog Stan and now little Anne; pre-1960 movies, collecting Smokey the Bear memorabilia and playing cards. She and Kory kept a motor home in Florida on the St. John's River and visited often in the winter. San Diego was also a yearly trip to stay with family and friends.
She is survived by her husband Kory Larson, siblings Susan (Tim) Lucas, Jerry (Leslie) Downs, Tom (Julie) Downs, Bill (Kirsten) Downs, and Kelly (Mitchell) Laskowitz, sister-in-laws Diane (David) Pierce, and Patti Wickless, and dozens of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father Jim, mother Rita, and brother Dick.