Betty Mae (Goettsch) Gruber

   BETTY MAE LORRAINE GRUBER, age 89, of Luverne, died Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Home in Luverne. She was born December 24, 1929, in Battle Plain Township, to Richard and Elizabeth (Bendt) Goettsch. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick, Minnesota.  She graduated from Luverne High School in 1947; and began working as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell in Luverne.

   Betty married Alvin Gruber on August 7, 1950, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick. The couple lived in Luverne until Betty’s career opportunities offered the opportunity to move to Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.

   Betty worked for Northwestern Bell in Luverne until 1957.  From 1957 through 1958 she worked for Northwestern Bell as District Traffic Chief Clerk in Redwood Falls before returning to Luverne as Chief Operator.  In 1969, Betty accepted the position of Chief Operator for Mountain Bell in Canon City, Colorado.  In 1971, she became Traffic Service Manager for Mountain Bell in Santa Fe, NM.  In 1975, she and Al moved to Albuquerque NM where she worked for Mountain Bell as Operations Services Manager and Force Manager before retiring in 1985 in the position of Force & Financial Services Manager for the Central Administrative Group of US West. 

   Following retirement, Betty and Al moved to Burlington, TX where they enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with her sister Marlene and her family.  Betty moved back to Luverne in 1990 following Al’s death where she remained for the rest of her life. 

   Betty’s faith was an important part of her life and she maintained active membership in the Missouri Synod Church throughout her life.  Upon returning to Luverne she joined St. John Lutheran Church where she remained a member until her death.       

   Betty is survived by her sister, Marlene Dagel, Fort Worth, TX; brother, Dale (Millie) Goettsch, New Brighton; sister-in-law. Carol Goettsch, Circle Pines; and many nieces & nephews.  She enjoyed special relationships with friends Jane & Larry Lanphere, Marvella & Jim Goembel and Carol Kuhlman.

   She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Alvin on April 11, 1990; and a brother, Arland Goettsch. 

   A graveside committal of cremains will be Saturday, June 15, 2019, at 2 pm at the Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.  Following the committal, a reception will be held in the lower level of the Rock County Veterans Memorial Building at 213 East Luverne Street in Luverne.   

   Dingmann Funeral Home & Cremation Services, in Luverne, is assisting the family with arrangements.

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