Ellen DeMille Given, 77, of Henderson, Nevada, passed away peacefully on November 13, 2024, after a courageous battle with congestive heart failure. Born in St. George, Utah, on January 1, 1947, to Ardell and Mary Jane (Crofts) DeMille, Ellen spent most of her life in Rockville, Utah, just outside of Zion National Park.
Upon graduation from Hurricane High School as Valedictorian in 1965, she attended Southern Utah State College (now Southern Utah University), majoring in Family Life with minors in Chemistry and Business. In the summers, she worked at Zion National Park near her home in Rockville. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in 1970, also as the Valedictorian. She then attended Brigham Young University where she received her Master of Science in Food Science and Nutrition. She continued working the summers at Zion National Park and attained a permanent position there upon graduation from BYU, working first as the Maintenance Division Administrative Assistant before becoming the Executive Secretary to the Superintendent and senior managers.
She married Roy Given who was serving as Zion’s Assistant Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services, and resigned her position upon the birth of her daughter, Mary Ellen. Ellen was blessed with another daughter, Alesha, and the family moved to Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas. After three years, Roy was promoted to the Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services at the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River in Pennsylvania and New York. They spent eight years there before Roy transferred to Hoover Dam (Bureau of Reclamation) where he served as the Special Projects Director and Supervisory Management Analyst. Ellen reentered the workforce as a chiropractic assistant in Las Vegas for two years before securing a position at Reclamation’s regional office in Boulder City, then on to Hoover Dam as the Maintenance Division’s Administrative Assistant, completing the circle she started many years previously!
A stay-at-home mom for 16 years, she was a devoted mother and had a tremendous impact on her daughters. Mary Ellen became a veterinarian, the first doctor in the family, while Alesha is an Air Force Major in the Nurse Corps.
A resident of Henderson since 2000, Ellen had a passion for cooking, baking, gardening, canning, sewing, church service, and love of animals, which brought joy and fulfillment to her life. She retired in 2009, followed by Roy retiring in 2017.
A life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ellen served in many callings including Young Women President, Primary President, ward and choir pianist, Relief Society and Primary teacher, and dedicated Visiting Teacher. She especially enjoyed being the Nursery Leader and Sunbeam teacher!
Ellen’s legacy of service will be deeply missed by all who knew her and experienced her love and discipleship.
Ellen is survived by her husband, Roy; daughters Mary Ellen (Henderson, NV) and Alesha (Fairfield, CA); step-son Christopher (Denver, CO); sisters Marianne (Hurricane, UT), Linda (San Marcos, CA), Diane (Alvaton, KY); brothers Dwight (Rockville, UT) and Kerry (LaVerkin, UT); and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Eileen, who passed away in 2022.
Memorial Services will be held at noon MST on December 5, at the Eldorado Stake Center (801 Arrowhead Trail, Henderson). Interment will be in the Rockville Cemetery at noon PST on December 6.