Lucille Gruss

Lucille M. "Betty" Gruss, age 93, of Faribault, died Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at the Pleasant Manor Nursing Home in Faribault.             Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at the Congregational Church of Faribault, United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Nancy C. L. Peebles, pastor officiating. Interment will be held at the Northfield Cemetery.             Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.             Arrangements are being completed by the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault.             Lucille Marion Gruss, the daughter of Edward and Mabel (Maxwell) Gruss, was born on June 22, 1915 in Northfield, MN. She attended Faribault High School and graduated with the class of 1933. Following high school, Betty attended St. Mary's Hall in Faribault for two years then earned her Teaching Certificate from the South Dakota School for the Deaf to teach deaf students. Betty first taught in South Dakota and later moved on to Frederick, Maryland, Cedar Springs, SC and for 22 years taught at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault. Betty loved teaching and being with children. She taught Sunday school for many years at the Congregational Church in Faribault and in retirement worked with Cambodian families that moved to Faribault teaching them English. Betty also enjoyed baking, reading and loved birds. She was a member of the Faribault Women's Club and was an active member at the Congregational Church of Faribault.             She is survived by her sister, Sally Gruss of Bettendorf, IA; by five nieces and nephews, Wendy Severns, Susan Leece, Roger Gruss Jr., Edward Gruss Jr. and Mary Perrone and other relatives and friends.             She was preceded in death by her parents, by her two brothers, Edward Gruss Sr. and Roger Gruss Sr. and by her nephew Christian Gruss.