Barbara “Barb” Joan (Zevenbergen) Givens

Barbara “Barb” Joan (Zevenbergen) Givens passed away on Friday, June 13, 2025, at her home in Montgomery. She was born on February 21, 1947, in Hull, Iowa to loving parents, Ruth (nee Dorsman) and John Zevenbergen, Jr. She graduated from Northwestern University in Orange City, Iowa, in 1969. She taught English in Stillwater to middle school students. She loved teaching! She later moved on to help the Givens’ Family Best Lock Business. While her kids were little, she loved volunteering with the Cubbies at Awana and other opportunities at church. After she retired, she poured herself into volunteering with various ministries including MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) and Group Work Camps. She was never happier than when she was helping others! After grandkids arrived on the scene, she loved babysitting and helping out. She also loved caring for the birds in her backyard and planting flowers for enjoying all summer long. 

Barb was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth and John Zevenbergen, Jr., as well as her sister, Donna (Zevenbergen) Romein, her sister-in-law Ann (Givens) Kruizenga, and two of her brothers-in-law Dick Alberg and Lowell Kruizenga. Barb is survived by her husband of 56 years, Jim Givens, her children, Dawn Givens and Timothy “T.J.” Givens (Felicia), and her grandchildren, Evan, Adriana, and Caleb Givens. She is also survived by her siblings Glen “Dutch” Zevenbergen (Susan), Lois Zevenbergen, LuAnn Page (Frank), and Lyle Zevenbergen (Ella). 

Barb will be remembered for her quick, winning smile, her strength, and her big heart for people. She wanted to help wherever she could and serve the Lord. She was always buying gifts for baby and wedding showers, and taking meals to those in need. She was very involved with missions and took many trips to various places like Tijuana, Mexico and Native American reservations in Wyoming and Montana. She volunteered with Operation Christmas Child to help pack gift boxes for children around the world. She loved jigsaw puzzles and sudoku. She was very mathematically talented. She loved horse pack trips into the mountains and went on 6 with her family where she photographed everything in sight! 

Visitation and Memorial Services on Saturday, June 21, 2025, beginning at 10 a.m. visitation, 11 a.m. Memorial Service with a luncheon to follow at South Suburban Evangelical Free Church (12600 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd, Apple Valley, MN 55124). In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to South Suburban Evangelical Free Church ssefc.org, Northfield Women’s Center northfieldwomenscenter.org, or Spectrum Ministries from Tijuana, Mexico, spectrumministries.org. The service will be live-streamed at South Suburban’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/live/TfgqWR-qciQ.

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