Two members of the First Quorum of the Seventy - Elder Ted E. Brewerton and Elder Hans B. Ringger - were given emeritus status Sept. 30 during the Saturday afternoon session of conference.
Elder Brewerton, 70, has been a General Authority since Sept. 30, 1978, when he was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy. Elder Ringger, who turns 70 on Nov. 2, was sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy April 6, 1985.Elder Brewerton was born March 30, 1925, in Raymond, Alberta. He graduated from the University of Alberta in pharmacology and worked as a pharmacist in the Calgary, Alberta, area. During World War II, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
As a member of the Seventy, he most recently served as president of the North America Northwest Area. Among many other assignments, he has served as executive administrator for Brazil, as president of the Mexico North Area, in the area presidency of the Mexico/Central America Area, in the South America South Area presidency and in the North America West Area presidency. He has also served in the Sunday School general presidency. He is a former regional representative, president of the Calgary Alberta Stake, stake president's counselor and bishop. He and his wife, Dorothy Hall Brewerton, are the parents of six children.
Elder Ringger was born Nov. 2, 1925, in Zurich, Switzerland, and was the first native of Switzerland to be called as a General Authority. He is a retired colonel in the Swiss army, and was an electrical engineer, architect, industrial designer and planner for laboratories and factories.
He most recently was a counselor in the Europe/Mediterranean Area presidency. Among many other assignments as a General Authority, Elder Ringger served as president of the Europe Area and had previously served as a counselor in the same presidency. He is a former regional representative and stake president in Zurich. He has also served as a bishop, an elders quorum president and a Scout leader. He is married to Helene Susy Zimmer Ringger, and they are the parents of four children.