-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Bx2L6I+0Kqp2wq0BUfNOofo0pIU+++fB/HHfZEQBih7cc0OEo0IDY+gc681Fnr0X
 NahGZL90ihY0qgE9vh3kgw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000067716-03-000075.txt : 20031124
<SEC-HEADER>0000067716-03-000075.hdr.sgml : 20031124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031124131922
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000067716-03-000075
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031124

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			REDDING CINDY C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001253392

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03480
		FILM NUMBER:		031020163

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		918 EAST DIVIDE AVE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 5650
		CITY:			GISMARCK
		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>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-20</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000067716</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MDU RESOURCES GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MDU</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001253392</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REDDING CINDY C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>918 EAST DIVIDE AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO 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, Human Resources</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock - (401-k)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>451.217</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.76</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>680.75</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trustee</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/S/ Cindy C. Redding</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>powerofattorneyredding.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
                         POWER OF ATTORNEY

          Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints each of Lester H. Loble II, Paul K.
Sandness and Debra S. Anderson, signing singly, the undersigned's
true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:
          (1)  execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in
            the
undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director of MDU
Resources Group, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in
accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and the rules thereunder;

          (2)  do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf
            of the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable
            to complete and execute any such Form 3, 4, or 5 and
            timely file such form with the United States
            Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock
            exchange or similar authority; and

          (3)  take any other action of any type whatsoever in
            connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of
            such attorney-infact, may be of benefit to, in the
            best interest of, or legally required by, the
            undersigned, it being understood that the documents
            executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
            undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall
            be in such
form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such attorney
in-fact's discretion.

      The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-
fact full power and authority to do and perform any and every act
and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper
to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and
powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do if
personally present, with full power of substitution
or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-
fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue of this power of
attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.
The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing
attorneys-infact, in serving in such capacity at the
request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is
the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's
responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

          This Power of Attorney shall remain in
full force and effect until the undersigned is no
longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with
respect to the undersigned's holdings of and
transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a
signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-
in-fact.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has
caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of
this _1st___ day of ___July___________, 2003.
                                        /S/ Cindy C.
                                        Redding
                                        Signature
                                        Cindy C.
Redding
                                        Print Name



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
