Jamie Lawrence Gittings, better known as "Spud" to his family and friends, was born February 16, 1975, at Pierre, South Dakota, the son of Charles F. and Zoni L. (Riggins) Gittings.

He began his early life on a ranch in the Milesville area.  He started school in the Milesville School.  In 1981, the family moved into Philip, where he graduated from Philip High School in 1993.  While in high school, he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball.  He was a member of the National Honor Society, was chosen as Senior Honor Athlete, was a member of the FFA, was Prom King, Homecoming King, and Sweetheart Ball King.

Spud was a member of the Seager Agency softball team and a very active member of the Lake Waggoner Golf Course.  His favorite pastime in the fall of the year was hunting, and he also enjoyed fishing.

Spud graduated from Black Hills State University in Spearfish with a teaching certificate in May of 1998.  He did his practice teaching at Philip High School in the spring of 1998, and also served as the junior high volleyball coach.

Spud recently accepted a teaching position as the Social Science and Language Arts teacher, as well as the junior high and high school girls' basketball coach, for Crawford High School in Crawford, Nebraska.

Spud was baptized in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Milesville and was presently a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip, where he was confirmed.

Grateful for having shared his life are his father and step-mother, Charles and Diane Gittings of Philip; his mother and step-father, Zoni and Corwin "Corky" Thorson of Philip; his brother, Jody Gittings of Philip; his sister, Julie Gittings of Philip; his maternal grandmother, Zola Riggins of Wanblee; five step-sisters, Shelly Hoffland and Tammi Pfeifer, both of Rapid City, Krystal Pfeifer of Philip, Dawn Coyle of Philip, and Diane Rensch of Rapid City; three step-brothers, Boyd Thorson of Philip, Gus Lutjens of Sisseton, and Roger Thorson of San Juan, Puerto Rico; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Jamie was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Rex Riggins; his paternal grandparents, Lawrence and Margaret Gittings; and one uncle, Tim Riggins.

The family request memorials be directed to the Jamie L. "Spud" Gittings Memorial Scholarship Fund at Philip High School.

Mass of Christian Burial
Monday, August 17, 1998
10:00 a.m.
Philip High School Gym
Philip, South Dakota

Celebrant
Father Arnold Kari

Altar Servers
Jerry and Brady Rhodes

Music
Marianne Frein - Pianist
Maureen Palecek - Vocalist
"On Eagle's Wings"
"Be Not Afraid"
"Prayer of St. Francis"
"Here I am Lord"

Lector
Jerry Rhodes

Ushers
Kenner Cihak - Curtis Cihak -Doug Kroetch
Shawn Woodward - Rick Coyle

Active Pallbearers
Dan (D.J) Rush - Matt Mangulis
Mark LaBeau - J. P. Jones
Justin Peterson - Brandon West

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota