<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001130464-04-000375
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>3
<PERIOD>20041216
<ITEMS>5.02
<ITEMS>9.01
<FILING-DATE>20041217
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20041217
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BLACK HILLS CORP /SD/
<CIK>0001130464
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4911
<IRS-NUMBER>460458824
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>SD
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-31303
<FILM-NUMBER>041211682
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>625 9TH STREET
<STREET2>PO BOX 1400
<CITY>RAPID CITY
<STATE>SD
<ZIP>57709
<PHONE>6057212343
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>625 9TH STREET
<STREET2>PO BOX 1400
<CITY>RAPID
<STATE>SD
<ZIP>57709
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>BLACK HILLS HOLDING CORP
<DATE-CHANGED>20001222
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form8k_smith12-04.htm
<DESCRIPTION>SMITH RESIGNATION
<TEXT>

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

<BODY>


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<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>


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     <P ALIGN=CENTER>_________________ </P>

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<A NAME=A003></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=4>FORM 8-K </FONT></H1>

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     <P ALIGN=CENTER>_________________ </P>

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<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>
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<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>

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     <P ALIGN=CENTER>_________________ </P>

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<A NAME=A007></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=4>BLACK HILLS CORPORATION </FONT></H1>

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<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>

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     <P ALIGN=CENTER>_________________ </P>

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<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>

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<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"></FONT></TH>
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<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>



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<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>


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<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>


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     <P ALIGN=CENTER>_________________ </P>

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<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>

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<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>

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<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>

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<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>

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<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>

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<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>




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<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>


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<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>


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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibits </FONT></P>

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<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>



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<A NAME=A024></A>
<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><U>SIGNATURES</U> </FONT></P>

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<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>


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<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>


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<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>



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<A NAME=A025></A>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Date: December 17, 2004 </FONT></P>






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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>2 </FONT></P>



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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ballot.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
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end

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>ex99form8k_12-04.htm
<DESCRIPTION>NEWS RELEASE 12-16-04
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD><TITLE>Form 8-K Smith Resignation/Krush Controller</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>BLACK HILLS
CORPORATION NAMES CORPORATE CONTROLLER</FONT></H1>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>RAPID CITY, SD&#151;December 17,
2004&#151;Black Hills Corporation (NYSE: BKH) today announced the appointment of Perry S.
Krush to Vice President &#150; Controller of the Company. </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;Mr. Krush
has been with Black Hills Corporation for 16 years, during which time he           has
successively advanced to positions of greater authority and responsibility.           His
career includes positions in accounting, audit, finance and management.           Krush&#146;s
experience extends to all aspects of the Company&#146;s diversified           retail and
wholesale energy and broadband communications businesses. Most           recently, he was
Controller of Retail Operations.  </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
position of Vice President &#150; Controller and Chief Accounting Officer formerly was
held by David S. Smith, who recently announced he will be leaving the Company to pursue
other interests. Mark T. Thies, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will
assume the responsibilities of Chief Accounting Officer. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Black
Hills Corporation (www.blackhillscorp.com) is a diverse energy and communications company
with three business groups: Black Hills Energy, the integrated, nonregulated energy
subsidiary which generates electricity, produces natural gas, oil and coal and markets
energy; Black Hills Power, an electric utility serving western South Dakota, northeastern
Wyoming and southeastern Montana; and Black Hills FiberCom, a broadband communications
company offering bundled telephone, high speed Internet and cable entertainment services. </FONT></P>

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</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
