Virda (Chim) Canter

A celebration of life will be held for Virda (Chim) Canter on Saturday, April 27 at Arvada United Methodist Church, 6750 Carr, Arvada. Chim died on January 13 one day before her first great grand-child was born.

She was born in New Salem, North Dakota April 28, 1927 to Fred and Rena Grube. Chim was the only daughter and had six brothers. As a farmer’s daughter she learned to sew and cook creatively and frugally. After graduation from high school, she left the small town by train to find adventure during World War 2, working for the Coast Guard in Washington, DC.

She also found Lawrence (Larry) Canter. The two married after a short courtship and returned to his hometown of Clarksville, Missouri. Unfortunately asthma flared up for Chim, and they moved to her home town of New Salem, North Dakota. There Robert and Jackie were born.

Larry returned to the service in 1955 joining the Air Force. The couple and family then had an adventurous life, living in places from Grand Forks, ND; Amarillo, TX: Belleview NE; Guam; Spain; Springfield, MA; and ending up in Denver, in 1972. Chim worked as a proof operator for a numbers of years at People’s Bank and spent many hours sewing, gardening and volunteering with the VFW Women’s Auxillary and Burns United Methodist Church. Her financial skills as a treasurer were always appreciated by those organizations.

Her granddaughters (Anne and Kate) were a big part of her life. Their school activities, church activities and outside activities were attended by both Larry and Chim, with Chim sewing many Halloween costumes and festive dresses.

Following Larry’s death in 2011, Chim continued living in the house thanks to good neighbors such as Greg and Julie. Chim had a stroke in 2018, impairing her speech and cognitive skills. She moved into the Argyle after a time in rehab and with Bob and Marcia. She made fleece blankets at Marcia’s request for various celebrations and despite her limitations, maintained a great optimism through the last years of her life.

She is survived by her son Robert (Marcia); daughter Jackie (Tom); granddaughters Anne (Scott) and Kate; and great-son Russell Lawrence. And numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

The family is grateful to the staff at the Argyle, Abode Hospice, Burns United Methodist Church and Arvada United Methodist Church for the care and love they showed Chim over the last years.