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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 9JzpO6Bgs5ttMzyuDlh/fg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000067716-03-000048.txt : 20030827
<SEC-HEADER>0000067716-03-000048.hdr.sgml : 20030827
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030827140732
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000067716-03-000048
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030827
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030827

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RAILE VERNON A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195511

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03480
		FILM NUMBER:		03868172

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC.
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 5650
		CITY:			BISMARK
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58506-5650

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MDU RESOURCES GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000067716
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MINING, QUARRYING OF NONMETALLIC MINERALS (NO FUELS) [1400]
		IRS NUMBER:				410423660
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		918 EAST DIVIDE AVENUE
		CITY:			BISMARCK
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58506-5650
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7012227900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		918 EAST DIVIDE AVENUE
		CITY:			BISMARCK
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58506-5650

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MONTANA DAKOTA UTILITIES CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19850429
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001195511d20030827f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-27</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000067716</issuerCik><issuerName>MDU RESOURCES GROUP INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>MDU</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001195511</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>RAILE VERNON A</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>P. O. BOX 5650</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>BISMARCK</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>ND</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>58506-5650</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP, Controller &amp; CAO</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRela
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tionDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15630</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Empl.Stock Opt.(Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>29.74</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2010-02-15</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-02-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>20800</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOw
nedFollowingTransaction><value>20800</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">These options were originally exercisable 2/10/07, but vesting was accelerated to 2/17/01 upon attainment of certain performance goals.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Vernon A Raile</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-27</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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