Virginia Van Derostyne

CANBY–Virginia Van Derostyne, age 86, of Canby, MN passed away with her family at her side at her home in Canby, MN on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Memorial service will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, May 1st at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Canby, MN. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7pm on Wednesday, April 30th at the Houseman Funeral Home-Birk Chapel in Canby, MN. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be at the Canby City Cemetery. Houseman Funeral Home- Birk Chapel in Canby has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Virginia Mae VanDerostyne was born May 7, 1938 in Madison, Minnesota to parents Norman and Ann (Reiners) Nelson. She was baptized and confirmed at Providence Valley Lutheran Church. She attended rural country school and graduated from Canby High School and then attended college and taught country school for 1 year.

On June 21, 1958 Virginia was married to Lawrence VanDerostyne. Together they made their home on the farm south of Porter, MN for 36 years where they raised their five children. She went back to college and received her BA in Education in 1970 and taught 2nd grade in Ivanhoe and Hendricks for 30 years. She loved working with children. They moved to Canby and she enjoyed retirement by bowling, traveling, reading, having friends over and playing cards. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family, her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and attending their school activities.

She was a member of Our Saviours Lutheran Church, Porter Legion Auxiliary and Retired Teachers.

Grateful for having shared Virginia’s life are her children: Leon VanDerostyne, Porter, MN, James (Hattie) VanDerostyne, Porter, MN, Cheryl (Randy) Denelsbeck, Canby, MN, Gary (Laurie) VanDerostyne, Porter, MN, Gerald VanDerostyne, Porter, MN; her grandchildren: Daniel VanDerostyne, Kayla (Brady) Watson; Mark Denelsbeck, Jennifer (Kristian) Leppke; SamiJo (Cody) Kraus and Kendra VanDerostyne (Andrew Andersen) and great-grandchildren: Henry and Chase Kraus; Magnolia and Ivy Watson.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Lawrence, brothers, Verden (Doris) Nelson and Gordon (Deloris) Nelson.