Bette Downs, 92 of Thief River Falls, MN passed away peacefully on Friday, June 5, 2020 at Minnesota Greenleaf.

The service to celebrate Bette's life will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Kristin Ostercamp officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Clyde Cemetery, Clyde, ND at 11:00 AM on Thursday, June 11, 2020. Please join the family for food & refreshments at Sporty's Bar & Grill following the burial.

Bette Jean Downs was born August 12, 1927 to Ira and Olga (Zabel) Gossett at home on the family farm near Munich, ND. She attended country school and graduated from Munich High School. Following high school, Bette attended Mayville State College where she earned a Teacher's Certificate.

Bette began teaching at a country school near Munich, ND. She soon met her future husband Ivan Wendel Downs and the couple were married on June 12, 1947 at the Clyde Methodist Church in Clyde, ND. To this union four children were born, Debra, Mary Beth, Peggy and Randel.

They farmed in Cavalier County, ND from 1946-1968.  They relocated to Kratka Township, Pennington County, MN near Goodridge, MN where they farmed from 1968-1981.  The couple moved to Thief River Falls in 1981. After moving to town, Bette enjoyed working at Hartz and Super One bakeries.

Bette was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Goodridge. She enjoyed mowing the lawn, working in her garden, bowling, walking, fishing, coffee with friends, watching Jeopardy and working on crossword puzzles. Family was her life and the grandkids could pretty much do anything they wanted at her home. She always had treats for the grandkids and a beer for her kids. Grandpa was always good at getting her riled up – they both loved a good argument.

Survivors include her children, Debra Berg of Beaver Dam, WI, Mary Beth Hoffmann of Grand Forks, ND and Randel (Rhonda) Downs of Goodridge, MN; 11 grandchildren, Joleen Berg, Mathew (Rachel) Berg, Rayanne Hoffmann, Ryan (Cheryl) Hoffmann, Ronda (Jamie) Ness, Gretchen Hoffman, Jason Hoffman, Tabitha (Dick) Johnson, Heather (Brian) Barry, Alisha (Kevin) Walseth & Tyler (Jodee) Downs; 11 Great-grandchildren; 8 great-great grandchildren; brother, Edward (LaVerne) Gossett of Bismarck, ND; and many other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Ivan on December 17, 2008; parents; daughter, Peggy  Hoffman; sons-in-law, Clinton Hoffman, Marvin Berg and Dale Hoffmann; grandson, Patrick Berg; siblings, Mary Gossett, Tom Gossett and Lyle Gossett.