<HTML>
<HEAD><TITLE>BHC Form 8-K Smith Resignation</TITLE></HEAD>

<BODY>


<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Major Center Bold" FSL="Default" -->
<A NAME=A001></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=4>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>Washington, D.C. 20549 </FONT></H1>


<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Center Rule" FSL="Default" -->
     <P ALIGN=CENTER>_________________ </P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Major Center Bold" FSL="Default" -->
<A NAME=A003></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=4>FORM 8-K </FONT></H1>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Center Rule" FSL="Default" -->
     <P ALIGN=CENTER>_________________ </P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Major Center Bold 1" FSL="Default" -->
<A NAME=A004></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE<BR>SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934   </FONT></H1>
<BR>
<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Minor Center Bold" FSL="Default" -->
<A NAME=A006></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Date of Report (Date
of earliest event reported) December 16, 2004 </FONT></H1>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Center Rule" FSL="Default" -->
     <P ALIGN=CENTER>_________________ </P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Major Center Bold" FSL="Default" -->
<A NAME=A007></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=4>BLACK HILLS CORPORATION </FONT></H1>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Minor Center Bold" FSL="Default" -->
<A NAME=A008></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>(Exact name of
registrant as specified in its charter) </FONT></H1>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Center Rule" FSL="Default" -->
     <P ALIGN=CENTER>_________________ </P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Major Center Bold 1" FSL="Default" -->
<A NAME=A009></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3>South Dakota<BR>(State or other
jurisdiction of incorporation) </FONT></H1>

<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0">
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"></FONT></TH>
     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"></FONT></TH></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
     <TD WIDTH="50%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"><B>             001-31303 </B>                     <BR>
     <B> (Commission File Number)</B>              <BR>
<BR>
   <B>625 Ninth Street, PO Box 1400 </B>           <BR>
       <B>Rapid City, South Dakota </B>            <BR>
   <B>(Address of principal executive offices)</B>
</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="50%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">             <B> 46-0458824</B><BR>
   <B>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</B><BR>
<BR>
              <B>57709-1400</B><BR>
               <B>(Zip Code)</B>
</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>



<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Major Center Bold 1" FSL="Default" -->
<A NAME=A011></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3>605.721.1700<BR>(Registrant&#146;s
telephone number, including area code) </FONT></H1>


<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Major Center Bold 1" FSL="Default" -->
<A NAME=A013></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3>Not Applicable<BR>
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report) </FONT></H1>


<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Center Rule" FSL="Default" -->
     <P ALIGN=CENTER>_________________ </P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Indent" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Check
the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the
filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (<I>see</I>
General Instruction A.2. below): </FONT></P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Indent" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><img src="ballot.jpg">&nbsp;Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</FONT></P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Indent" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><img src="ballot.jpg">&nbsp;Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </FONT></P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Indent" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><img src="ballot.jpg">&nbsp;Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </FONT></P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Indent" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><img src="ballot.jpg">&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications
pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </FONT></P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Page Rule Single" FSL="Default" -->
     <HR ALIGN=LEFT WIDTH=100% SIZE=1 NOSHADE>



<!-- *************************************************************************** -->
<!-- MARKER PAGE="sheet: 1; page: 1" -->
<HR SIZE=5 COLOR=GRAY NOSHADE>






<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Left" FSL="Default" -->
<A NAME=A023></A>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><B>Item 5.02</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;<B>Departure
of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal
Officers</B>  </FONT></P>




<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>On December 16, 2004, David S. Smith, Vice President&#150;Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of the
Registrant resigned.  On December 16, 2004, the Board of Directors of the Registrant named Mark T. Thies as the
Chief Accounting Officer.  Mr. Thies will assume the position of Chief Accounting Officer in addition to his
current position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer which he has served since March 2000.
The additional information required by Item 5.02(c) of this Form in regards to Mr. Thies is incorporated herein
by reference from Item 4a of the Registrant&#146;s Form 10&#150;K for 2003.</FONT></P>


<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Left" FSL="Default" -->
<A NAME=A022></A>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><B>Item 9.01</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;<B>Financial
Statements and Exhibits</B>  </FONT></P>


<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibits </FONT></P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para (List) Indent" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;99&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Press
Release dated December 17, 2004.  </FONT></P>



<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Center Underline" FSL="Default" -->
<A NAME=A024></A>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><U>SIGNATURES</U> </FONT></P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Indent" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. </FONT></P>


<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush Level 5" FSL="Default" -->
<TABLE WIDTH=100% CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0>
<TR VALIGN=TOP>
<TD WIDTH=50%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=50%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
BLACK HILLS CORPORATION </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>


<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush Level 5" FSL="Default" -->
<TABLE WIDTH=100% CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0>
<TR VALIGN=TOP>
<TD WIDTH=50%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=50%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
By: <U> /s/ David R. Emery</U><BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;David R. Emery<BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;President and Chief Executive Officer </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>



<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Left" FSL="Default" -->
<A NAME=A025></A>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Date: December 17, 2004 </FONT></P>






<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Default" FSL="Default" -->
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>2 </FONT></P>



</BODY>
</HTML>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "form8k_smith12-04.htm", "description": "SMITH RESIGNATION", "secsgml_size_bytes": 8568}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "BLACK HILLS CORP /SD/", "cik": "0001130464", "assigned-sic": "4911", "irs-number": "460458824", "state-of-incorporation": "SD", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-31303", "film-number": "041211682"}, "business-address": {"street1": "625 9TH STREET", "street2": "PO BOX 1400", "city": "RAPID CITY", "state": "SD", "zip": "57709", "phone": "6057212343"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "625 9TH STREET", "street2": "PO BOX 1400", "city": "RAPID", "state": "SD", "zip": "57709"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "BLACK HILLS HOLDING CORP", "date-changed": "20001222"}}
BHC Form 8-K Smith Resignation
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_________________
FORM 8-K
_________________
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date
of earliest event reported) December 16, 2004
_________________
BLACK HILLS CORPORATION
(Exact name of
registrant as specified in its charter)
_________________
South Dakota
(State or other
jurisdiction of incorporation)
001-31303
(Commission File Number)
625 Ninth Street, PO Box 1400
Rapid City, South Dakota
(Address of principal executive offices)
46-0458824
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
57709-1400
(Zip Code)
605.721.1700
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
_________________
Check
the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the
filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (
see
General Instruction A.2. below):
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications
pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02
Departure
of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal
Officers
On December 16, 2004, David S. Smith, Vice President–Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of the
Registrant resigned.  On December 16, 2004, the Board of Directors of the Registrant named Mark T. Thies as the
Chief Accounting Officer.  Mr. Thies will assume the position of Chief Accounting Officer in addition to his
current position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer which he has served since March 2000.
The additional information required by Item 5.02(c) of this Form in regards to Mr. Thies is incorporated herein
by reference from Item 4a of the Registrant's Form 10–K for 2003.
Item 9.01
Financial
Statements and Exhibits
(c)  Exhibits
99      Press
Release dated December 17, 2004.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
BLACK HILLS CORPORATION
By:
/s/ David R. Emery
David R. Emery
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: December 17, 2004
2