SPEARFISH, SD – The South Dakota Municipal League (SDML) Hall of Fame honors employees who have served municipalities in South Dakota for 20 or more years.
Inductees are recognized at the fall SDML annual conference during the Excellence in South Dakota Municipal Government Award Luncheon and in the November issue of the South Dakota Municipalities magazine.
The City of Spearfish has two inductees for 2025: Lee Alberts and Gary Lillehaug.
Lee Alberts started with the City of Spearfish as a solid waste operator in 2005. In 2011, Lee was promoted to a mechanic and has been in that position since. The public works director said Lee is a hard worker, dedicated, and has a good attitude. Lee provides quality service to all departments within the City and makes the City a great place to work. His efforts within motor pool keep the rest of the City running and gives the departments the ability to provide the services they provide.
Gary Lillehaug was hired as the hydroelectric plant superintendent in January of 2005 after the City purchased the plant from Homestake Mining Company to maintain water flow through the City of Spearfish. The hydroelectric plant is a functional and historical part of Spearfish. Prior to coming to work for the City , Gary operated the hydroelectric plant while employed with Barrick Mining Corporation. Gary is passionate about the plant as his father also worked at the hydroelectric plant for 35 years, while employed by Homestake. Gary retired in 2021 but is still on employed on a part-time basis as a subject matter expert for his knowledge of the plant.
