Church News - New Mission Presidents Church News

7/7/2014 Church News - New mission presidents Church News

New mission presidents

Published: Saturday, Jan. 24, 1998

Eight new mission presidents have been called by the First Presidency. The mission presidents and their wives will begin their service about July 1. Their assignments will be announced later. The new mission presidents are:

- Richard M. Andrus, 61, San Luis Obispo 1st Ward, San Luis Obispo California Stake; former stake president and counselor, bishop and counselor, and missionary in the Western Canadian Mission; retired personnel director for San Luis Coastal Unified School District; received bachelor's degree in education from California State University-Los Angeles, and master's degree in educational administration from California State Polytechnic University-San Luis Obispo; born in Bell, Calif., to Richard Morris and Roma Irene Boston Andrus; married Darlene Hill, five children. She is a Relief Society instructor; former stake missionary, Young Women president and teacher, counselor in Relief Society presidency, teacher development instructor, and missionary in the Spanish American Mission; received real estate license from Lumbleau Real Estate School and attended Cuesta College and BYU; born in Salt Lake City to John Hyrum Hill Jr. and Clara Vada Horne Hill.- Steven R. Ballard, 51, Harmony Park Ward, Mesa Arizona Kimball Stake; high councilor; former high councilor, bishop, elders quorum president and instructor, assistant deacons quorum adviser, and Sunday School teacher; owner of Intermedics Southwest; received bachelor's degree in biology from BYU; born in Logan, Utah, to William Wallace and Hannah Jueschke Ballard; married Marta Jo Skousen, six children. She is Relief Society president; former stake Primary president, stake missionary, counselor in Relief Society presidency, organist, and Cub Scout leader; received bachelor's degree in nursing from BYU; born in Mesa, Ariz., to Willard Ivan and Marta Ruth Nielson Skousen.

- Robert P. Crowther, 49, Bluffdale 5th Ward, Bluffdale Utah Stake; counselor in stake presidency; former high councilor, stake Young Men president, bishop and counselor, Young Men president, and missionary in the Irish Mission; seminary principal; received bachelor's degree in education and master's degree in public administration, both from BYU; born in Salt Lake City to Benjamin Price and Margaret Stevenson Crowther; married Brenda Vawdrey, eight children. She is counselor in the stake Relief Society presidency; former Young Women and Primary president, counselor in Relief Society presidency, Laurel adviser, and Primary teacher; received certificate of completion from Salt Lake Trade School; born in Murray, Utah, to Dwayne Lovell and Verlene Allen Vawdrey.

- LeGrand R. Curtis Jr., 45, Butler 27th Ward, Salt Lake Butler West Stake; stake president; former stake executive secretary, high councilor, bishop, elders quorum instructor, and missionary in the Italy North Mission; attorney; received bachelor's degree in economics from BYU and juris doctorate from the University of Michigan; born in Ogden, Utah, to LeGrand Raine and Patricia Glade Curtis; married Jane Cowan, five children. She is counselor in Relief Society presidency; former counselor in stake Primary presidency, Relief Society president, counselor in Primary presidency, Relief Society instructor, and Beehive adviser; received bachelor's http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/print/30620/New-mission-presidents.html 1/2 7/7/2014 Church News - New mission presidents degree in education from BYU; born in Salt Lake City to Richard Morris and Marjorie Orme Cowan.

- Fernando D. Ortega, 46, Del Viso Branch, Buenos Aires Argentina Escobar Stake; counselor in stake presidency; former stake president, counselor in mission presidency, district president, high councilor, and bishop; maintenance manager for the Presiding Bishop's Office in Buenos Aires; received technical degree from Liceo Agrieola Agricultural College; born in Mendoza, Argentina, to Jose Rufino and Mercedes Bonilla Ortega; married Irma Endstorfer, seven children. She is Primary president; former Relief Society and Young Women president; attended Cuyo National University; born in Mendoza, Argentina, to Walter Franz and Elsa Biritos Endstorfer.

- Byron A. Rasmussen, 61, Gilbert 12th Ward, Gilbert Arizona Val Vista Stake; temple preparation instructor; patriarch, former counselor in stake presidency, stake executive secretary, high councilor, bishop and counselor, ward mission leader, and missionary in the Denmark Copenhagen Mission; institute instructor; received associate degree from College of Southern Utah, bachelor's degree in physical education and biological science from Utah State University, and master's degree in child development and family relations from BYU; born in Provo, Utah, to F. Blaine and Eva Jane Hiken Rasmussen; married Myrna Lunt. She is a temple preparation instructor; former counselor in stake Young Women and stake Primary presidency, stake Relief Society board member, secretary to patriarch, and ward resource center director; attended Henager School of Business; born in Nephi, Utah, to Eugene and Mildred McPherson Lunt.

- LaVorn G. Sparks Jr., 57, Edgemont 19th Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont North Stake; priests quorum adviser; former high councilor, bishop and counselor, Missionary Training Center branch president and counselor, and elders quorum president; owner of advertising and construction businesses; received bachelor's degree in political science from BYU; born in Santa Monica, Calif., to Lavorn Greer and Beatrice Ruby Mathews Sparks; married Jeannie Peterson, nine children. She is Young Women president; former Primary president, Missionary Training Center service missionary; Young Women chorister and teacher, Relief Society teacher and chorister, Primary chorister, and Beehive adviser; received bachelor's degree in elementary education; born in South Gate, Calif., to Russell Vincent and Phyllis Giles Peterson.

- Joseph Toth, 65, Lethbridge 5th Ward, Lethbridge Alberta Stake; stake missionary, ward mission leader and temple ordinance worker; former high councilor, bishop and counselor, Young Men president, high priests group leader, finance chairman, activities chairman, and ward financial clerk; locomotive engineer; born in Gurnsey, Saskatchewan, to Mihaly and Maria Kerger Toth; married Verna Prosser, six children. She is a stake missionary and temple ordinance worker; former counselor in stake Young Women presidency, counselor and secretary in Relief Society presidency, counselor and secretary in Primary presidency, Young Women president and counselor, Relief Society teacher, Primary teacher, Young Women teacher, and nursery leader; born in Kemptville, Ontario, to Howard Allen and Violet May Kennedy Prosser.

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