LaVona I. (Dettmer) Gruber, 81 years of age, of Concordia, passed away Friday, August 30, 2013 at Mount Joseph Senior Village in Concordia. She was born in Kensington on February 6, 1932 to John and Barbara (Miller) Dettmer. LaVona graduated from Kensington High School in 1949. She married Melvin "Mel" Gruber on July 24, 1949 in Kensington. Mel and LaVona moved to Concordia in the 1950's. LaVona retired from UMB in 1996 after 29 years as a bank teller. She was a member of the Concordia Lutheran Church.

LaVona is survived by her daughter, Cindy Buer and husband Kirby of Scandia; son, Greg Gruber and wife Nancy of Phillipsburg; grandchildren, Braden Buer and wife Jennie, Megan Buer, Angela Rose and husband Van, Nicole Sedelmeier and husband Kent, Karinda Craney, Brittani Gruber; 2 step grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; 6 step great grandchildren; sister, Eulonda Hagman of Kensington, sister-in-law, Mildred Dettmer of Kensington; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Mel on February 7, 2011; daughter, Linda Adkins; 2 brothers, Alvin Dettmer, Wilbur "Bill" Dettmer; sister-in-law, Blanche Dettmer; and brother-in-law, Eugene Hagman.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, September 4, 2013 in the Concordia Lutheran Church in Concordia with Rev. David Strommen officiating. Interment will be at 3:00 PM Wednesday, September 4, 2013 in the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Kensington. Closed casket visitation will be held from 9 AM to 9 PM Tuesday, September 3, 2013 with family greeting friends from 6:30 to 7:30 PM in the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home in Concordia. Memorials are suggested to the Concordia Lutheran Church, St. John's Lutheran Church in Kensington, and Meadowlark Hospice in care of the funeral home. Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home in Concordia is in charge of arrangements.