New Temple Presidents Called to Serve in Nauvoo, Memphis, Lima, and More

• 27 May 2016

The Nauvoo Illinois Temple.

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Eight new temple presidents and matrons have been called by the First Presidency.

Fresno California Temple

David Heber Crane, 68, Visalia 1st Ward, Visalia California Stake, called as president of the Fresno California Temple, succeeding President Jerry E. Callister. President Crane’s wife, Jeanette Linford Crane, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Kathryn R. Callister. He is first counselor in the Fresno California Temple presidency. He served as president of the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission, stake president, bishop, and stake Young Men president. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Born in Murray, Utah, to Leonald Heber and Lyla May Butler Crane.

Sister Crane is an assistant to the matron of the Fresno California Temple. She served with her husband as he presided over the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission. She served as stake and ward Relief Society president, stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Young Women president, and ward Primary presidency counselor. Born in Glendale, California, to Raymond Hodges and Wanda Ball Linford.

Memphis Tennessee Temple

Darrel Keith Danielson, 70, Bartlett 2nd Ward, Memphis Tennessee North Stake, called as president of the Memphis Tennessee Temple, succeeding President James E. Griffin. President Danielson’s wife, Linda Jean Stay Danielson, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Marlena Griffin. He is first counselor in the Memphis Tennessee Temple presidency. He served as stake president, bishop, mission presidency counselor, high councilor, and senior missionary. Retired financial adviser for FedEx. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Carl Alfred and Wenonah Claire Danielson.

Sister Danielson is an assistant to the matron at the Memphis Tennessee Temple. She served as stake Young Women president, stake Relief Society presidency counselor, senior missionary, and temple ordinance worker. Born in Pasadena, California, to Jesse Eldred and Helen Lela Valantine Stay.

Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple

Donald David Deshler, 69, Overland Park 1st Ward, Lenexa Kansas Stake, called as president of the Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple, succeeding President Theodore H. Okiishi. President Deshler’s wife, Carol Ann Payne Deshler, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Rae Wiemers Okiishi. He has served as an Area Seventy, stake president, high councilor, and regional public affairs director. Retired director of Center for Research on Learning, University of Kansas. Born in Butte, Montana, to Karl I. and Margarita Diedrichs Deshler.

Sister Deshler is a Relief Society teacher. She served as a stake Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Relief Society president, and seminary teacher. She was born in Blackfoot, Idaho, to James Weldon and Clara Mai Pitts Payne.

Lima Peru Temple

Richard William Gillespie, 67, Cascade Park Ward, Vancouver Washington Stake, called as president of the Lima Peru Temple, succeeding President G. Mario Perotti. President Gillespie’s wife, Ann H. Gillespie, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Marina Perotti. He is the second counselor in the Portland Oregon Temple presidency. He served as president of the Chile Viña del Mar Mission, stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, and high priests group leader. Retired dentist. Born in Reno, Nevada, to Robert William and Lillian V. Gillespie.

Sister Gillespie is an assistant to the matron of the Portland Oregon Temple. She served with her husband as he presided over the Chile Viña del Mar Mission, and served as a stake and ward Young Women president, stake and ward music chairman, and Primary chorister. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Benson Lewis Hathaway Sr. and Florence LaRue Hathaway.

Nauvoo Illinois Temple

Richard Alan Irion, 64, Meadows Ward, Murray Utah South Stake, called as president of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple, succeeding President James A. McArthur. President Irion’s wife, Gloria Nelson Irion, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Denise A. McArthur. He is a high priests group leader and temple sealer at the Jordan River Utah Temple. He served as president of the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, bishop, high councilor, and ward Young Men president. Retired OB-GYN. Born in Marysville, Kansas, to Robert Earl and Beverly Ann Irion.

Sister Irion serves in a ward Relief Society presidency. She served with her husband as he presided over the Tennessee Knoxville Mission and served as a stake and ward Young Women president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, and member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Born in Washington, D.C., to Russell Marion Nelson Sr. and Dantzel White Nelson.

Portland Oregon Temple

David Afton Lundgreen, 73, Oregon City 2nd Ward, Oregon City Stake, called as president of the Portland Oregon Temple, succeeding President Steven H. Pond. President Lundgreen’s wife, Penelope Joan Whisenand Lundgreen, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Diane B. Pond. He is a ward Sunday School president and a sealer at the Portland Oregon Temple. He served as stake president, bishop, high councilor, and high priests group leader. Retired regional manager for Hoffmann-La Roche Laboratories. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Wesley Kimball and Beverly B. Bohman Lundgreen.

Sister Lundgreen is a Relief Society teacher and a temple ordinance worker. She served as stake Relief Society president, stake Relief Society and Primary presidency counselor, and ward Primary president. Born in Portland, Oregon, to George Valentine and Kathrine Loy Changas Whisenand.

Mérida Mexico Temple

Augusto Peña Barrera, 61, Universidad 2nd Ward, Oaxaca Mexico Mitla Stake, called as president of the Mérida Mexico Temple, succeeding President Oscar García García. President Peña’s wife, Sandra Alicia Orozco Rojas de Peña, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Rosa Castorena de García. He is second counselor in the Oaxaca Mexico Temple presidency. He served in a stake presidency and as a bishop, high councilor, and high priests group leader. Retired production manager at Pagani Dycomet. Born in México, Distrito Federal, México, to Alejandro Augusto Peña Angulo and Minelia Leonor Barrera Manzanilla.

Sister Peña is an assistant to the matron of the Oaxaca Mexico Temple. She served as a stake Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Relief Society president, seminary teacher, and temple ordinance worker. Born in Tultitlán, Edo. De México, México, to Jose Orozco Baca and Herminia de Orozco Rojas.

Reno Nevada Temple

Robert Floyd Weed, 65, Fallon 4th Ward, Fallon Nevada South Stake, called as president of the Reno Nevada Temple, succeeding President George K. Tsukamoto. President Weed’s wife, Rebecca Jean Herrod Weed, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Sharon Tsukamoto. He is ward mission leader and a temple ordinance worker. He served as president of the Benin Cotonou Mission, stake president, bishop, and high councilor. Dentist. Born in Wilmington, Delaware, to Mark Barg and Josephine Chloe Weed.

Sister Weed is a stake Relief Society presidency counselor and is a temple ordinance worker. She served with her husband as he presided over the Benin Cotonou Mission and as stake and ward Relief Society president and stake Young Women president. Born in Brigham City, Utah, to J. T. Herrod Jr. and Lola Gene Herrod.

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