By Carleen Wild
Moody County Enterprise
After more than six decades practicing law in Flandreau, attorney John Shaeffer is beginning to look ahead — and make sure the work he’s built continues.
Shaeffer recently welcomed attorney Connor Hickman to the practice to ensure continued legal services for the community while allowing him to gradually step back from day-to-day work.
“Connor has been helping me phase out for several months now. I have been greatly impressed with his legal ability, meeting people, and his enthusiasm for the law.”
For Shaeffer, the transition marks the continuation of something much bigger than any one career.
The practice itself dates back nearly 140 years, originally established in 1887. Over time, it passed through generations of attorneys before Shaeffer took it over in 1975 following his time as state’s attorney.
Since arriving in Flandreau fresh out of law school in 1965, Shaeffer has spent his entire career serving Moody County — something he says has been shaped as much by the people around him as the cases themselves.
“It would take me all day to recite all the memorable cases that I have been involved in over the years. We have been fortunate here in Moody County to have had outstanding judges in my more than 60 years of practice here in Moody County. That fact remains today as when I first started practicing. Also, we have been fortunate in having an excellent group of people that have held office at the courthouse as well as the sheriff’s office during my tenure.”
Hickman steps into that history with a background rooted in small-town South Dakota.
Raised near Lyons and a graduate of Tri-Valley High School, he said that upbringing continues to shape how he approaches every day.
“Growing up in a small community instilled in me an appreciation for hard work, relationships, and the importance of showing up for the people around you — values that continue to shape how I approach both my career and my life.”
Hickman brings a wide range of experience to the role, including service in the South Dakota Air National Guard, where he has spent more than 11 years and now serves as a Maintenance Officer after starting as an F-16 crew chief.
He also worked with the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations before earning his law degree from the University of South Dakota.
Now, working alongside Shaeffer and the team at Lammers, Kleibacker, Dawson and Miller, Hickman said the opportunity to serve communities like Flandreau is what drew him in.
“At my core, I truly enjoy helping people, and being an attorney allows me to do that every day, whether that’s guiding someone through a difficult situation, advocating for them in court, or simply helping them understand their options.”
The transition at the office also includes the departure of longtime assistant Linda Christensen, who worked alongside Shaeffer for nearly five decades.
“Linda has been with me for 47 years and she will be missed by everyone that has had any dealings with this office. My life has been made much easier by her loyalty and commitment to this law practice and to me. I hope she has many years in retirement. It was like having another lawyer in the office with me and made my life and work so much easier and enjoyable.”
Christensen had planned to remain with the office through Shaeffer’s eventual retirement, but recently made the decision to step away to focus on her health and spend more time with family and closer to home.
As for Shaeffer, he isn’t stepping away entirely just yet. He plans to remain involved in the office in an “of counsel” role, helping Hickman transition into the practice and connect with clients built over decades.
“The community has been a great place to raise my family and live. I intend to stay on at the office to assist Connor and help him become acclimated to the practice and introduce him and become acquainted with our clients. I shall remain ‘of counsel’ at least for the present time until we see what the future holds for the firm.”
“I feel it an obligation to the community to keep the law practice going. I am supremely confident of Connor and the law firm of Lammers, Kleibacker, Dawson, and Miller of Madison, South Dakota. It will be a privilege to be associated with them as I begin to phase out on my career.”
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