We are honored to introduce our Peggy Kessler RideOn Award,
in memory of our friend Peggy Kessler.
In Loving Memory PEGGY A. KESSLER August 12, 1959 - May 4, 2018
Peggy was an avid sports fan, as well as a talented participant. In high school and college, Peggy participated in basketball, volleyball, track and softball. She graduated from SDSU in 1981 with a B.S. in Public Recreation. Peggy loved playing softball from 1977 through 1988, helping her team win 2 state tournaments, and was inducted into the South Dakota ASA Softball Hall of Fame in 1990. Peggy officiated volleyball for 21 years and was the first volleyball official to be named NFIOA Outstanding Official for South Dakota in 1990. In 2008, the SDHSAA presented Peggy with the Officials' Leadership Award from the SD Girls and Women's Sports.
Peggy loved her family, her friends, and meeting new friends. When not at work, Peggy could be found out camping, riding horses, golfing, watching football, traveling, geocaching and just being outdoors.
After being diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in 2001, Peggy was an advocate through the Cancer Treatment Centers of America and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, answering countless emails and phone calls to offer help and support to others. Peggy also hosted 7 golf tournaments to raise awareness and funding for Pancreatic Cancer. In 2009, she received the Randy Pausch (author of the Last Lecture) award presented by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in Washington, D.C.
SPECIAL NOTES FROM JANA CARLSON:
Peggy had a love for not only people but also for her horses. She wanted a horse from the time she was in kindergarten. Her mom saved every Christmas letter Peggy wrote Santa asking for a horse. Peggy would like the idea about rewarding good behavior and getting kids more involved in the outdoors and to appreciate nature and all its animals. If Peggy could have lived and camped outside every day she would have. I know Peggy would be very honored (about the Peggy Kessler RideOn Award).
When Jana sent us the original memorial donation, she wrote this note:
Enclosed is a check in memory of Peggy Kessler.
She loved her horse and all horses.
Now she can ride every day.
We thank Jana and all of Peggy's friends and relatives who contributed to the original memorial donation.
We also thank Mary Lou Dahms and Christine & Douglas Jacobson for individual gifts in memory of Peggy.
The original amount came to $555.00. The owners of New Hope Horse Shelter, Greg Schjodt and Darci Hortness, matched that amount.
Instead of just buying hay with the memorial money, we wanted to make it last and grow. So, we started the Peggy Kessler RideOn Award, a kind of scholarship for people in our horsemanship program. Original donations to the Peggy Kessler RidoOn Fund are used to buy hay for the rescued horses who live here. The matching funds from Greg and Darci are used as the scholarship part, to help with the horsemanship program we have here.
Greg and Darci will match up to $5,000.00 for 2018. If you are interested in contributing to the Peggy Kessler RideOn Award, you may call Darci 605 359-0961. Send checks/notes to Horse Help Providers, Inc. (DoubleHP), 25337 470 Ave, Crooks SD 57020. Or use the donate button on this website.
Darci played softball with Jana and Peggy, and Greg & Darci often visited with them while riding horses on the Newton Hills trails. Or ran into them on the golf course or at other sports/outdoors events.
If you would like to add to this Memorial, or start your own, just let us know.
Just call 605 359-0961 or email doublehphorses@aol.com if you have any questions or suggestions. Thank you.
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