This page contains some of the history of the church in the Patagonia prior to 1990.
Glenn Sebring arrived in Neuquen directly from the MTC in Provo. He eneterd the mission home in Salt Lake City in June of 1969 and arrived in Neuquen in August of that year. He was probably the third missionary to serve in the city. His companion was Elder James Streeter ( now living in the Salt Lake area and working at the Church office building). Elder Sebring replaced an Elder Desmond. They were Probably the first two missionaries assigned to the City. The Elders (Elder Carr for sure) were in The first district. When Elder Sebring arrived, there was one member of the Church in the city. One Alicia Cornjo. She now lives in Phoenix Arizona and is married to Elder Sebrings brother Donald Sebring. They are active and their son Paul served a mission about two years ago in Argentina. While Elder Streeter and Elder Sebring served in Neuquen, they were able to introduced the gospel to three individuals that were baptized.
Elder Melvin J. Carr arrived in General Roca in September of 1969. His companion, Elder John Pace, was the Branch President of General Roca and as the Junior Companion, he was the Second Counselor. A member by the name of Pedro Lopez was the First Counselor. The missionary District Leader lived in Neuquen along with his companion and two Elders in Cipoletti. His district also included the two Elders in San Carlos de Bariloche, Elder Norm Finlinson and Elder John Pennell, there were probably others assigned there before, but as of yet we don't have that information. At that time the branch in Neuquen was small with only a few members (about 25) and they baptized either in the Rio Negro or traveled to General Roca. They had a font in Roca. Missionary work in the Valle del Rio Negro was alive and growing in 1969. The missionary Zone Leader at that time was in Bahia Blanca. A very long bus ride from General Roca. They were quite isolated from most other missionaries.
Since then the city and the gospel have grown in the Patagonia at an incredible pace. Now the cities with missionaries include most of the small Patagonian cities to the southern most city in the world, Ushuaia. Elder Difini opened Ushuaia around 1979.