Margaret “Peg” Hammitt, age 86, of Rapid City, SD and formerly from Chadron, NE, passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024. Cremation has been held and a Memorial Service and inurnment will be held at a later date at Emmanuel Episcopal Church Memorial Garden in Rapid City, SD.
You may view Peg’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC and Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home are in charge of Peg’s care and funeral arrangements.
Margaret Read was an only child born to Peter and Margaret E. (Pippett) Read on August 23, 1938 in New Jersey. She married Jackson L. Hammitt June 24, 1961 and earned her Master’s Degree in Library Science the same year. The couple established their home in Chadron the fall of 1967 where Peg’s first teaching assignment was at West Ward School. When that school was closed, she was reassigned to East Ward as the Library Media Specialist for East Ward and Kenwood Schools. Her tenure there was a long and eventful career.
Peg had strong organization skills that kept all materials ready for the classroom use, a ‘go to’ personality for staff and still found time to mentor many new people. She was highly intelligent and was instrumental in bringing the Talented and Gifted Program to Chadron Elementary Schools.
While in Chadron, Peg was very active in AAUW (American Association of University Women) and served in many positions including President. She served for years in the Nebraska State Education Association, a proud board member for the Panhandle District and was active in attending many workshops to further the education of children. Her community activities included serving on the planning committee for the Centennial Train Ride. The interest in all things trains stemmed from spending time with one of her grandfathers who was an employee of the railroad in the Eastern United States. She often spoke of how precious those memories were to her.
Peg also spent a number of years working with the Shepherd’s Pantry, a joint mission of Grace Episcopal and Immanuel Lutheran Churches. In addition to official efforts with that organization, Peg took on some families as a personal mission. She was a member of the Hobby Club and completed many beautiful cross stitch items that she would give as gifts, and volunteered at the Dawes County Museum.
Her giving to children continued into retirement in Rapid City. She participated in and did the shopping for children’s gifts to ensure their school bags included everything they needed to start school in the fall and bags were filled with Christmas needs. Not only was her personal life a busy one, she kept busy supporting her husband, ‘Doc’ in his many organizational and musical endeavors. They traveled to many conventions and entertained friends and associates in their home. Their interests took them to many parts of the world where they learned all they could of the local customs and daily lives where they found themselves.
Peg and Jackson never had children of their own, however grew especially close to friends/family with three of her husband’s music students: Corey (Sarah) Jenkins of Sidney, NE, Kevin (Jan) Dart of Hastings, NE and Ryan (Steph) Lovell of Rushville, NE.
Condolences may be sent to the family in care of Gehrig-Stitt Chapel, PO Box 151, Sidney NE 69162.