Bill D. Havens

Bill Havens' work here was finished on September 8, 2021 when he received a call from heaven for an appointment with no return. The assignment came with an offer he couldn't refuse-reunion with family and friends he had not seen in a long time.

Billie Dean Havens was born on December 20, 1928 in Roswell, New Mexico to Jasper Lee and Beauna Mae Havens. He passed away from natural causes in Farmington, New Mexico. Bill was blessed with perfectly straight teeth that flashed movie-star quality smiles. He liked to laugh and joke and he loved good music-everything from Beethoven to Burl Ives! He was fiercely independent, a true maverick and consummate Western man who marched to the beat of his own drum.

Bill Havens graduated from Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota with a degree in Theology. This is where he met and married his beloved Irene on July 17, 1955 and she remained by his side for 66 years. Bill was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He felt certain his favorite dogs, Brit and Buster, would be waiting for him in heaven! He especially loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. Bill was a builder and was involved in the trucking industry and real estate development, but his true calling and life's work was in the building and establishing of churches for more than 65 years.

In the late 50's, Bill and Irene started a church in their home in Missoula, Montana. They later turned over the small congregation to another pastor as they prepared to travel and evangelize across the U.S. In 1964, they accepted the pastorate at Irene's home church in Farmington, New Mexico and built the United Pentecostal Church at 1900 Fairview Ave. While they were pastoring, they ministered in surrounding areas such as Pagosa Springs and Kirtland. Bill also taught, preached, and held baptismal services across the Navajo Nation-Indian Village, Newcomb, Tohatchi, Shiprock and Gallup. He also had a heart for foreign missions and personally funded the building of two churches in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He and Irene enjoyed traveling there to see the fruits of their labor. Bill and Irene pastored in Farmington approximately 35 years before moving to Amarillo, Texas to serve as Texico District Superintendent. In subsequent years, they lived in Claremore, Oklahoma as assistants to a local church pastor, as well as pastoring a church in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Bill's final endeavor at age 85 was teaching a home Bible study group which quickly grew and relocated to a store front in Farmington, now known as Life Church with newly appointed Pastor Seth Barlow. If you had asked Bill when he was planning to retire, he might quote a favorite line from a poem by Robert Frost, I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep…and miles to go before I sleep. When his heart saw the need, he picked up his feet and went there with his wife and children by his side. Bill knew before his passing that he had finally gone the last mile of the way and referenced Paul the apostle in II Timothy 4:7-8 (KJV), I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.

Bill Havens was preceded in death by his baby daughter, Joyce Andrea Havens, parents Jasper Lee Havens and Beauna Mae Havens, brothers Richard Havens and James Leland Havens, sisters Nell Rose Ross and Darlene Joy Miller. He is survived by his wife, Irene Havens, sons William Stuart Havens and Bradley Dean Havens, daughter Janice Lynn Hubbell, grandchildren Stephen David Hubbell, Morgan Lanae Fitzgerald, Lindsey Brooke Hubbell, Luke Taylor Havens and Sage Reed Havens, as well as great-grandchildren Ellie Jean Fitzgerald, Reid Cohen Fitzgerald, Zedd Wilder Fitzgerald and Maisen Kate Havens.

Bill Havens is in the care of Brewer, Lee and Larkin at 103 E. Ute St., Farmington, NM 87401, (505) 325-8688. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Thursday, September 16, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Farmington United Pentecostal Church, Pastor Steve Carrington, 1900 N. Fairview Ave., Farmington, NM 87401, (505) 325-3347. A luncheon will follow immediately in the church fellowship hall. Interment will be at Memory Gardens, 6917 E. Main St., Farmington, NM 87402 on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.