Published obituary--William Grant Bangerter

WILLIAM BANGERTER

William Grant Bangerter 1918 ~ 2010 William Grant Bangerter, an emeritus member of the First Quorum of The Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of Alpine, Utah, died April 18, 2010, at age 91. Born June 8, 1918 in Granger, Utah to William Henry and Isabelle Bawden Bangerter, Elder Bangerter was the second of 11 children and grandson of Mormon pioneers and Swiss immigrants. He spent his early years working with his father on the family farm using mostly horse drawn equipment. He enjoyed farming and horses throughout his life. As a General Authority he served as a member of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy. His assignments included the Presidency of the International Mission, Executive Director of the Temple Department, and Director of various areas of the Church at different times, including Brazil, Chile, Colorado, Nevada, South Utah and the North Eastern US as well as Managing Director of the Genealogical Department. Elder Bangerter served as a missionary to Brazil, 1939-1941 speaking Portuguese and German. Soon thereafter he was called to the Bishopric but was drafted into the US Army after Pearl Harbor and became a bomber pilot, squadron commander and flying instructor. He married Mildred Lee Schwantes in the Mesa, Az. Temple on March 8, 1944, she died in 1952, one year after the death of their fourth child. In 1953 he married Geraldine Hamblin in the Salt Lake Temple. They had seven children. He worked as a building contractor with his father and brothers. Earlier church service was as a Bishop, President of two Stakes, and Assistant Chairman of the Pioneer Welfare Region. Elder Bangerter presided over three missions of the Church: Brazil (1958-63), Portugal (1974-75) and the International Mission (1975-77). He was president to more than 600 missionaries with whom he and his wife have maintained a close bond. In various assignments prior to being called as a General Authority, Elder Bangerter served as a member of the Church Home Teaching Committee, the Melchizedek Priesthood Committee, the Church Correlation Committee and as a Regional Representative from 1968-1975 in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, Texas and Brazil. His civic service included membership on the Board of Trustees of the LDS Hospital, the University of Utah Alumni Board and Alpine City Council. He studied two years at Brigham Young University and following the War he attended and graduated from the University of Utah with honors, with degrees in History and Languages. He had a knowledge and love of peoples around the world and a special association with the country and people of Brazil; he could often be heard speaking or singing in Portuguese, Spanish and German. As an emeritus General Authority he served as president of the Jordan River Temple from 1990-93, sealer in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple and Patriarch of the Alpine Utah West Stake until his death. His devoted wife Geri supported and accompanied him in his many Church and civic assignments throughout their 57 years together. He revered the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and was a loving and tender husband and father. He loved the mountains and his beautiful farm in Alpine. Elder Bangerter is survived by his wife; 10 children: Lee Ann Lorenzon (Richard), Cory William (Gayle), Glenda Apple (Steve), Julie Beck (Ramon), Grant Hamblin (Cleadonna), Howard Kent (Lissa), Peggy Brasilia Dowse, Glenn Paulo (JaLayne), Layne Rio (Betsy), Duella Williams (Lonnie); those of the Wosnjuk/Duffles family whom he embraced as children; sisters Pauline Jensen, Elsbeth Hansen, Marian Lindsey, and Naomi Christopherson; brother Norman H.; 65 grandchildren; and 67 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Mildred; a daughter, Mildred Elizabeth; granddaughter Katie; sisters, Sarah Hardy and Glenneth Wilson; and brothers, Samuel B., Blauer L. and David K. He is beloved and will be remembered as one of the "noble and great ones." A viewing will be held on Friday April 23rd from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Alpine Stake Center located at 98 East Canyon Crest Road, Alpine, Utah, and on Saturday, April 24th from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the LDS Tabernacle, 110 East Main Street, American Fork, UT. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the Tabernacle in American Fork. Burial will be in the Elysian Gardens, 1045 East 4580 South, Murray, Utah, under the direction of Anderson & Sons Mortuary. Online condolences may be sent at andersonmortuary.com

Published in Salt Lake Tribune from April 22 to April 23, 2010