Henry Paul Givens

Henry Paul Givens, husband, father, beloved friend, departed from his earthly travels and entered into Life Eternal. He was born to Silas J. Givens and Martha A. (Meunier) Givens on October 28, 1938, in Kimberly, Idaho. His journey ended in a local Salt Lake City hospital on June 8, 2025. Surviving Henry are his wife, Janet, his two children, Rick and Gregory, and two grandchildren.

Henry’s birth mother was not able to keep him, and in a great act of love, gave him to the care of the attending midwife, Martha. Martha and Silas had not been able to have children and in another act of great love, they adopted Henry to be their own son. Silas and Martha also adopted his half-brother, Richard, a year later.

Henry was raised in Kimberly, where he grew up hunting and fishing, and loving everything outdoors. He made many lifetime friends in school and graduated from Kimberly High School in 1956. Later in life, he served as their class reunion planner and served on the Kimberly “Good Neighbors Day” reunion committee. He looked forward to these two events every year, and through them, stayed connected with his many friends.

In 1955, Henry joined the National Guard and served as a Mess Steward in the 116 th Armored Cavalry Unit. Not surprisingly, he qualified as a marksman in rifle and an expert in carbine. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergent in 1960.

Henry met Janet in high school through mutual friends and were married in 1958, on Halloween in Twin Falls, Idaho. They always joked that he got tricked and she got the treat, or she got tricked and he got the treat. It would depend on who was telling the story. They were married for 66 years, blessed in the love they had for each other.

In 1966, Henry took a job as a Route Salesman for Wonder Bread. He moved the family to Rupert, Idaho, in 1973 with his promotion to Sales Supervisor with Wonder Bread. A promotion to Sales Manager in 1976 brought the Givens family to Utah, where Henry worked out of the Ogden/Salt Lake branches of Wonder Bread. They found a home in Fruit Heights and from Fruit Heights, the family moved up the road to East Layton. They were avid Bridge players, participating in multiple Bridge groups. Henry always played to win and despite his competitive drive, many of the people they played with became steadfast friends.

Henry was an outdoorsman and family man who enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and traveling with his wife and family. He taught his boys to love the outdoors. Every spring, summer and fall were spent camping and hunting or fishing as much as possible. For many years after retirement, Henry and Janet took their fifth wheel trailer to the mountains in the summers.

When his son Rick married Mary, Henry and Jan embraced the role of grandparents, unconditionally loving Walter and Jennifer as their own. Henry’s ability to go over the top with Christmas and birthdays for the kids (and the rest of the family) was legendary.

Henry loved God and worshiped him throughout his life. Henry also loved people. Giving was his love language, and he gave generously. Through his words and actions, he taught his family the values of love, friendship, hard work, integrity and honesty. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered.

Henry is survived by his wife, Janet Rae (Roemer) Givens; son Rick L. Givens and his wife Mary E. (Rosio) Givens; son Gregory L. Givens; grandchildren Walter M Rosio and Jennifer R Rosio.

Funeral services will be held on Friday June 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah. Family and friends may visit with the family Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. prior to services at the mortuary. Interment Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton.