Elder William Grant Bangerter dies at 91

SALT LAKE CITY — Elder William

Grant Bangerter was a fairly unique general authority of the LDS Church

in the 1980s, because he would come home at night, change out of his

suit, and go out and milk cows.

One of his sons, Layne Bangerter, said

his late father loved horses and his farm, plus he knew how to have fun

with his family, camping, fishing and hunting.

Elder Bangerter, 91, emeritus general

authority and former member of the Presidency of the Seventy of The

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at 5:08 a.m. on

Sunday, April 18, 2010, of causes incident to age.

The older brother of former Utah Gov.

Norm Bangerter and the father of LDS Relief Society General President

Julie Bangerter Beck and 10 other children, Elder Bangerter served 14

years as a general authority. He was granted emeritus status on Sept.

30, 1989.

Elder Bangerter was sustained as an

assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve on April 4, 1975, at the age of

56. He was later sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy on Oct. 1,

1975. He served in the Presidency of the Seventy from Sept. 30, 1978,

to April 5, 1980, and again from Feb. 17, 1985, to Sept. 30, 1989.

"He was a great brother, a great example

of how a person ought to live," his youngest brother, Norm Bangerter,

said. "He was totally committed to the church."

"He wasn't the kind of man to go out and

demand attention," Paulo Bangerter, another son, said. "But he was very

strong in a quiet way. ... He had a light touch on things, but firm ... and

he couldn't stand negativity."

Elder Bangerter also had served as

president of the Brazilian Mission of the church from 1958-1963. In

1974, he was called to open the Portugal Lisbon mission. He had also

been first counselor in the North American Northeast Area Presidency

from 1984-1985.

During his service as a general

authority, he also had served as the executive director of the church's

Temple Department and as managing director of the Genealogical

Department. During his tenure in the Temple Department, the number of

operating LDS temples increased from 17 to 42, and temple enhancements

included increased video presentations for temple sessions, automated

computer recording systems, translation of temple instructions into

additional languages and presentations for deaf members.