-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O59RW7Eb+mfzZKVtuWKtizNU1kilpzigtFIEn0Xp4/G1S0cY/2bH4yu4LXGAh5EU
 w1hBxAuRIP4DWy4Oh0ymFg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000067716-04-000011.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0000067716-04-000011.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105125050
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000067716-04-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PEARCE HARRY J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181762

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03480
		FILM NUMBER:		04502958

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		COLUMBIA CENTE
		STREET 2:		101 W BIG BEAVER STE 625
		CITY:			TROY
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48084
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2484576800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		COLUMBIA CENTE
		STREET 2:		101 W BIG BEAVER STE 625
		CITY:			TROY
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48084
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001181762d20040105f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000067716</issuerCik><issuerName>MDU RESOURCES GROUP INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>MDU</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001181762</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>PEARCE HARRY J</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>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwne
r><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>67396.5</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1244.051</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerS
hare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1244.051</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>21716.0315</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.5433</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-05-16</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-05-16</valu
e></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>25.7</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-05-17</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-05-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowin
gTransaction><value>4500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">1 for 1</footnote><footnote id="F2">Phantom Stock units include units that were accrued through dividends under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Units are to be settled in cash after reporting person's retirement.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Harry J Pearce</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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