George D. Gittings

George D. Gittings, age 72, of Philip, S.D., died on Sunday, December 25, 2016, near his home north of Philip.

 

George Daniel Gittings was born March 25, 1944, the fourth of six children born to Lawrence and Margaret (O’Connell) Gittings, in Philip. 

 

He grew up two miles west of Billsburg and attended Hart School, before graduating from Philip High School in 1962. He was a part of the move from the old high school to the Armory. They gladly signed his diploma to get him out of there.

 

George joined the National Guards, and spent six months at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., for his basic training, and was stationed at Philip. He farmed and ranched with his dad and brothers until 1968.

On Oct. 5, 1968, he was united in marriage to Sandee Blair in Philip. They made their home on the Gebes ranch two miles south of his parents farm-ranch. In 1971, George worked for Tom Foley for a year before working for Sandee’s dad and his dad, until May of 1974, when they moved to the Homer Wood place where they made their home until moving to the Missile Control Center two miles east in 2008. When they moved, they also ran the Missile Inn Bed and Breakfast at their home. This fit right into George’s main activity of visiting with people. George was never afraid to help out anyone, and was a good neighbor to everyone. He also enjoyed teaching the grandkids how to drive a tractor and helped during the haying season.

 

George was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip. He was a dedicated member of the Knights of Columbus since 1962. He served as Grand Knight in 1967-1968, and has been the treasurer for the last 45 years. He also sold the majority of the football books as a fundraiser for the Knights for years. He was the Haakon County President of South Dakota Farmer’s Union for over 30 years. He very much enjoyed going to Minnesota Twins game and was proud of the fact he made it to the Metrodome to watch the Broncos play the Vikings. You could always find George with a Pepsi and Hershey’s mini candy bars for the kids.

 

Survivors include his wife, Sandee, of Philip; two children, Robin Gittings and fiancée, Kristi Eden, of Philip, and Roxie Gittings of Rapid City; three grandchildren, Jessica (Wade) McGruder, Kelsey (Bryce Dickerson) Gittings, and Kinsey (special friend Reanna Rogers) Gittings; four great-grandchildren, Daniel, Melodie, Kohen and Jace; one sister, Peggy Hook and her husband, Dwilyn “PeeWee,” of Philip; three brothers, Leo Gittings of Florence, Ariz., Charles Gittings and his wife, Diane, of Summerset, and Joe Gittings and his wife, Kathy, of Philip; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

 

George was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Margaret (O’Connell) Gittings; a brother, Larry Gittings in 1939; a sister-in-law, Judith “Judie” Gittings; and a nephew, Jamie L. “Spud” Gittings.

 

Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Friday, Dec. 30, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Philip.

 

Interment will be at a later date at the Blair Family Cemetery near Milesville.

 

A memorial has been established.

 

Arrangements were with the Rush Funeral Home of Philip.

 

His online guestbook is available at www.rushfuneralhome. com