Sandpoint stake announces new president, counselors

On Sunday, April 18 members of the Sandpoint stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sustained a new stake presidency. The new stake president is Michael Strock and serving with him as his counselors are Robbe Redford and Jed Bateman.

Strock lives in Sandpoint and works as a consultant. He and his wife Kristin have four teen-age children. Robbe Redford lives in Kootenai where he owns and operates an assisted living facility. He and his wife Julie have five grown children and five grandchildren. Jed Bateman, of Bonners Ferry, is employed as the pharmacy director at Boundary Community Hospital. He and his wife Tomi are parents of seven children, one foster child, and have one grandchild.

The stake presidency oversees 11 congregations – three in Sandpoint, two in Bonners Ferry, and one each in Westmond, Clark Fork, Priest River, Newport, Washington, and Troy and Libby, Montana.

Church officials expressed appreciation to former stake president Rick Ballard of Sandpoint, and his counselors, Blane Coffey of Priest River, and Doug Marks of Sagle. They have served for the past nine years as lay ministers giving many hours of service. They will now be called to serve in other responsibilities in their various congregations.