Lillian Frances (Riden, Giddens) Hastings
Lillian Frances (Riden, Giddens) Hastings was born in Bunker, Missouri on
January 31, 1934 to Luther & Maudie (Rice) Riden.
Lillian attended elementary school to 5th grade in Bunker. Her family moved to
Rolla, MO where she finished school. She was Baptized into the First Christian
Church at the age of 14.
Lillian married Lavergul Elmer Giddens in February 1950. To this marriage 4
children were born. Kenneth Edward Giddens, James Allen Giddens, Linda
Sue (Giddens) French and Donald Paul Giddens.
In 1954 Lillian entered into the Rolla School of Practical Nursing through the
Phelps County Memorial Hospital and the James Foundation St. James,
Missouri. She worked at the hospital in all positions, concentrating mainly in
obstetrics for many years.
In 1968 she helped Dr. Smith Gaddy open his first office in the practice of
General Surgery in Rolla.
In 1975 the couple divorced. In 1978, she obtained a Real Estate License and
worked for Century 21 for a few years. Lillian moved to Springfield, Missouri
where she worked at the Channel 27 TV Station and VR Business Brokers. She
then moved to Dallas, TX where she worked for Richardson Credit Union and
Foley’s Department Stores cash office. Accepting a nursing position in 1990,
Lillian returned to the St. Louis area.
In 1991 she met and married Sam Hastings.
In 1995 she retired from nursing and pursued her real estate career full time.
Lillian worked for Gundaker Real Estate in St. Peters, MO. In 1999, She
obtained her Real Estate Brokers License and opened her own office in O'
Fallon, MO. She and Sam joined the Cornerstone Methodist Church. There
Lillian was active in the choir, kitchen duty, and quilting. In 2011 the couple
both retired and moved to Branson Missouri. They both joined the Kimberling
City United Methodist Church. Lillian was active in the choir and numerous
other ministries and areas of service in the church.
Along with a successful career and serving faithfully in her church, Lillian was
an accomplished seamstress, sewing wedding gowns and furniture accents.
Lillian entered into rest on May 23, 2026 at her home in Branson West at the
age of 92.
She is survived by: Her husband Sam of the home., Son, James & Stacy
Giddens of Alton, IL, Daughter, Linda & John French of Brinktown, MO, Son,
Donald Giddens of Rolla. Two step-children, Son, Don & Christina Hastings of
Shelbina, MO, Christina and Shawn Rowden of St. Elizabeth, MO.
Grandchildren, Jeff and Thresea Giddens of McKinney, TX, Amanda and Adam
Pierce of McKinney, TX, Windy Giddens of Rolla, MO, Hannah and Barry
Hartman of Springfield, MO, Brad Giddens of Rolla, Taylor Giddens of St.
Louis, Ashley Hastings of Shelbina, MO, Lindsay Hastings of Shelbina, Brandi
DeFrenne of St Elizabeth, MO, Skylar Rowden of St Elizabeth.
Greatgrandchildren, Keeley & Chloe Giddens, Kennedy & Penny Pierce,
Charles W. Hartman and Brynne Hartman. And Sister, Adra Spencer of Rolla.
She was preceded in death by: Her parents, Luther & Maudie Riden; Her first
husband, Lavergul Giddens; Her son, Kenneth Edward Giddens; Sister,
Imogene & husband Jim Horn; Sister, Regina Ilene O’Neal; and Brother-in-law,
Paul Spencer.
A celebration of life will be held at the Kimberling City Methodist Church with
interment at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield at a time and date to
be announced.