New mission presidents
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Eight new mission presidents, called by the First Presidency, have been announced. The new leaders and their wives will begin service about July 1. Assignments for all new mission presidents are on pages 8 and 9 of this issue. The new leaders and their wives announced this week are:
Ralph and Sheila Aardema
Ralph C. Aardema, 57, Slovenia Ljubljana Mission; Ogden 35th Ward, Ogden Utah Stake; executive director of operations for Ogden City Schools; former stake president, high councilor, bishop, Sunday School and Primary teacher; born in Ogden, Utah, to Paul William and Valine Farr Aardema. Married Sheila Palmer, five children.
She is stake Primary president and a former ward Relief Society and Primary president, stake Young Women president's counselor and Cubmaster. She was born in Logan, Utah, to Edward Oreon and Olga Christabel Howell Palmer.
LeRoy and Mary Berrett
LeRoy K. Berrett, 60, South Carolina Columbia Mission; Hanford 1st Ward, Hanford California Stake; vice president, broker, owner of JGP/Bacome Insurance; counselor in the California Fresno Mission and former stake mission president, high councilor and bishop's counselor; born in Murray, Utah, to Golden LeRoy and Caroline Roberts Kimball Berrett. Married Mary Richards, four children.
She is Relief Society secretary and has served as Relief Society president and teacher, and Primary president's counselor and nursery leader. She was born in Murray, Utah, to Howard Vaughn and Roma Elizabeth Christensen Richards.
Neil and Linda Christensen
Neil H Christensen, 60, California Riverside Mission; Tempe 10th Ward, Tempe Arizona West Stake; regional controller of Bank One; patriarch, former stake president, stake mission president, high councilor, bishop and counselor; born in Ogden, Utah, to Boyd Hilliard and Lois Christine Coles Christensen. Married Linda Gay Mitchell Zentner; four children.
She is birth parent volunteer for Family Services and is a former Relief Society president and visiting teacher coordinator, Young Women adviser and family history data entry worker. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to David Thomas and Ruth Johansen Zentner.
Martell and LaRue Gee
Martell J. Gee, 64, Russia Yekaterinburg Mission; North Canyon 3rd Ward, Bountiful Utah North Canyon Stake; manager in Church Information and Communications Systems; stake family history adviser and former bishop and counselor, high priests group leader and ward clerk; born in Pocatello, Idaho, to Ivin Lafayette and Pearl Stucki Gee. Married LaRue Barrus, seven children.
She is ward music chairman and former Primary president, and counselor in Relief Society and Young Women presidencies and choir director. She was born in Rexburg, Idaho, to Charles LaMar Sr. and Ruth Hammond Barrus.
David and Ana Maria Lopez
David Lopez, 48, Chile Osorno Mission; Villa Lugano Ward, Buenos Aires Argentina Liniers Stake; area materials management manager for Church; Area Authority Seventy, former Area Authority, stake president and counselor, and branch president; born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Antonio and Consuelo Blanco Lopez. Married Ana Maria Avila, five children.
She is Young Women president, and former Primary and Relief Society president and counselor and seminary teacher. She was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Jose Luis and Ana Maria Kunstler Avila.
Leonel and Livia Sa Maia
Leonel Sa Maia, 55, Brazil Fortaleza Mission; Morumbi Ward, Sao Paulo Stake; assistant recorder at Sao Paulo Brazil Temple; branch president at Sao Paulo Missionary Training Center, former regional welfare agent, mission president's counselor, high councilor and bishop; born in Cedro, Brazil, to Euclides and Maria Cristina S Maia. Married Livia Silva, six children.
A ward Relief Society president, she has served as Relief Society president's counselor and teacher, Primary president and counselor. She was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to Arthur and Wanda Zocratto Da Silva.
Tarcila and Nata Tobias
Nata Cruciol Tobias, 44, Brazil Maceio Mission; Parque Iguacu Ward, Sao Jose Brazil dos Pinhais Stake; CES coordinator; stake president, former counselor, bishop, branch president and stake executive secretary; born in Gloria de Dourados, Brazil, to Josephino and Dalila Cruciol Tobias. Married Tarcila Barreto Figueiredo, three children.
She is a counselor in the ward Young Women presidency and has served as Primary president and music leader, stake Young Women president and ward Relief Society president.
William and Sherry Young
William James Young, 57, El Salvador San Salvador West Mission; Orchard 3rd Ward, Orem Utah East Stake; owner/ partner/general manager of land development company; stake mission president and former bishop and counselor, high councilor and Young Men president; born in Logan, Utah, to Raymond William and Donna Smith Young. Married Cheryl "Sherry" Lynne Long; six children.
She is a Young Women adviser and former Young Women president, Primary president's counselor and teacher, and Cub Scout leader. She was born in St. Anthony, Idaho, to Clifford Virgin and Evadean Forsgren Long.
