by Lynn Arave
Published: Monday, April 19, 2010 10:45 a.m. MDT
SALT LAKE CITY — Elder William Grant Bangerter, 91, emeritus general authority and former member of the presidency of the Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints, died early Monday, according to a church official.
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 of the church. 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 had also served as president of Brazilian international mission of the church from 1958-1963. In 1974, he was called to open the Portugal Lisbon mission of the church. He had also been First Counselor in the North American Northeast Area Presidency from 1984-1985.
Prior to his call as a general authority, he had served as the executive director of the Temple Department of the church and also 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.
After his emeritus status, he also served as president of the Jordan River Temple from 1990 to 1993.
He was sometimes described as a quiet man, soft-spoken and deliberate, but one who displayed a sense of urgency.
He is also the father of Relief Society General President Julie B. Beck.
Born June 8, 1918, in Granger, he was the second of 11 children to William Henry and Isabelle Bawden Bangerter. He was called as a regional representative for the church in 1967.
He served a first mission to Brazil from 1939-1941 and also in the bishopric of the Granger Ward. He had served as bishop and also as a stake president twice and had served on the church's home teaching committee.
He also spent four years in the armed forces, becoming a U.S. Army Air Force pilot and training squadron commander.
Elder Bangerter had served as vice-chairman of Pioneer Welfare Region, a member of the executive committee of the board of trustees on LDS Hospital and also as chairman of the Magna and Granger seminary boards.
His professional career was farming and also in the building and contracting business. He was considered an excellent carpenter.
He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and had also done graduate work there, with a major in history.
He married his first wife, Mildred Lee Schwantes, in 1944 and they were the parents of four children, one of whom died at birth. His first wife died of leukemia in 1952. He married Geraldine Hamblin in 1953 and they were the parents of seven children.
Funeral services are pending.
