When Lori Schultz first stepped into the Brookings County Courthouse in 1989, she wasn’t looking for a career — she was just answering a neighborly plea for help during a lunch hour. But as she retires as finance officer, with her last day being April 3, Schultz leaves behind a nearly 37-year legacy that mirrors the evolution of the county itself.
Schultz’s tenure has been defined by a remarkable ability to bridge the gap between two eras. She began her service in the age of clacking typewriters and hand-typed vehicle registrations; she leaves it in a digital world of instant data. Yet, despite the shift toward computerized efficiency, Schultz never lost sight of the human element. Whether she was navigating the complex 2008 merger of the treasurer and auditor offices or tracing her own father’s signature in tax books dating back to the 1800s, she understood that county records are more than just numbers — they are the heartbeat of a community’s history.
Public service, for Schultz, was a family calling. With a lineage of sheriffs and jailers in her blood, she treated her role with a reverence that is increasingly rare. She wasn’t just a “numbers cruncher”; she was a fierce advocate for her staff. Her retirement marks the departure of a leader who viewed her office like a puzzle — one where every piece, and every person, mattered.
As Schultz trades her 5:15 a.m. alarm for time with her grandchildren, Brookings County loses a wealth of institutional knowledge. Her career reminds us that the best public servants are those who show up, do the work “by the book,” and stay dedicated to the people they serve.
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