Kirsten Annie Vantine

It is with deep love and sorrow that her family announces the passing of Kirsten Annie Vantine (nee Evjen). She left this life just shy of her 103rd birthday which would have been celebrated on Christmas Eve, December 24th. We are immensely grateful for her longevity. The privilege of having our loving and gracious mother for so long has been a great blessing to us all.

Kirsten (mormor) was born in 1922 in her family farmhouse in Lundamo, Norway. As a young woman she left her small village for the city of Trondheim. There she worked as a hairdresser and met and married Alv Grottvik, experienced the war years under German occupation and had her first daughter, Vigdis. After the war, they emigrated to Canada with two year old Vigdis. Their destination was North Delta where Alv had relatives. Annieville, along River Road, was home to a fishing community of many Norwegian descent. The Lutheran Church was a hub of activities for the community. Daughters, Anita and Hilde, were soon born and all three girls graduated from North Delta High School. Alv’s work with BC Packers required that he spend many months each year at Wadhams Camp in Rivers Inlet on the coast of B.C. Kirsten packed up her three girls in the summers for many years to join her husband. She flew in float planes and lived in a company house with a cast iron stove, ringer washer, and bears out her front door.

Kirsten was widowed when Alv passed away early and eventually married William (Bill) Vantine, also a widower. Bill had four adult boys and a young daughter. Her three girls gave her six grandchildren within three years and presently she has six great grandchildren. Kirsten enjoyed many family celebrations and summers camping throughout the years. As well as being busy with family, Kirsten and Bill were able to travel – Norway, Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, California – and learned to golf and cross country ski together. Since Bill was an enthusiastic hunter and sports fisherman, Kirsten once again spent time in BC’s north, Ootsa Lake, where Bill’s family owned a hunting lodge.

Bill and Kirsten moved to White Rock in 2002 where they loved to garden in the sunshine of their ground floor suite and always appreciated their caring and friendly neighbors. She enjoyed the independence of her home until she was over 100 years of age. She then moved to Westminster House where she spent the last 2 ½ years under the loving care of all the staff.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 2350 148 Street, Surrey, BC on November 1, 2025 at 1 PM.