Margaret Kathryn O'Connell was born January 30, 1916, at Sioux City, Iowa, to Leo and Ellen (Crowe) O'Connell.  Her mother died when she was five years old and she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Julia and George O'Connell, ten miles northwest of Philip.

She grew up there and received her elementary education in the rural school prior to graduating from Philip High School in 1933.

Margaret was united in marriage to Lawrence Gittings on June 25, 1935, at Philip, South Dakota.  They farmed and ranched five miles southwest of Milesville all their married life.  Her husband preceded her in death on October 13, 1979.  She moved into Philip in October of 1979, where she resided until her death.

Margaret was a former member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Church Altar Society of Milesville, and since moving into Philip was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Tribe 9 of the Evening Guild.  She was a long time member of the Royal Neighbors and the South Dakota Farmers Union.

Grateful for having shared her life are her daughter, Peggy (Mrs. Dwilyn) Hook of Philip; four sons, Leo Gittings of Columbia, South Carolina; George Gittings and Charles Gittings, both of Philip; and Joe Gittings of Milesville, South Dakota; 15 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; one brother, Bernard O'Connell of Philip; one half-brother, Leo O'Connell of Albany, Oregon; one sister-in-law, Georgia Reynick, of Rapid City, South Dakota; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband, Lawrence, she was preceded in death by one son, Larry Gittings, on June 26, 1939; one brother, Frank O'Connell; two sisters, Mary Schimberg and Jane Devers; and one step-sister, Mildred Poss.

Mass of Christian Burial
Friday, October 6, 1989
11:00 a.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota

Celebrant
Father Christopher Scadron

Music
Marianne Moriarty - Organist
Maureen Palecek - Vocalist

Lector
Linda Patton

Special Minister
Jim Gottsleben

Altar Servers
Tadd Moriarty - Darren Gebes - D.J. Rush

Gift Bearers
Michael Ann Sandy - Roxie Gittings
J'Nai Hauk - Kara Gittings
Mary Gittings - Julie Gittings

Ushers
Bill Sandal - Todd Radway

Active Pallbearers - Grandsons
Toby Hook - Robin Gittings - Lance Gittings
Marty Hook - Jody Gittings - John Gittings
Jared Hook - Jamie Gittings - Jay Gittings

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota