<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-5
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>exh5a1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EX. 5(A)-1 - OPINION OF CYNTHIA J. NORLAND
<TEXT>
                                 [EXHIBIT 5(a)-1
                      OPINION OF CYNTHIA J. NORLAND, ESQ.,
              ACTING GENERAL COUNSEL TO MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC.]

                    [LETTERHEAD OF MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC.]


                                February 5, 2004


MDU Resources Group, Inc.
Schuchart Building
918 East Divide Avenue
P.O. Box 5650
Bismarck, North Dakota 58506-5650

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am Acting General Counsel of MDU Resources Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"). I refer to the opinion of Lester H. Loble, II,
Esq., the former Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the
Company, dated June 13, 2003 (the "June 13 Opinion"), addressed to the Company
with respect to $500,000,000 in aggregate amount of (i) debt securities and (ii)
common stock, par value $1.00 per share, together with the preference share
purchase rights attached thereto (the "Rights"), registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), on the Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-104150), as heretofore amended, which became
effective on September 26, 2003 (the "Registration Statement"). This opinion is
supplemental to the June 13 Opinion.

     In connection with this opinion, I have examined originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of (i) the Registration
Statement, (ii) the prospectus, dated September 26, 2003, forming a part of the
Registration Statement, as supplemented by a prospectus supplement, dated
February 4, 2004 (collectively, the "Prospectus"), relating to the offer and
sale of 2,300,000 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's Common Stock, $1.00 par
value per share, including 300,000 shares of common stock for which the
underwriters have been granted an over-allotment option, together with the
preference share purchase rights attached thereto, (iii) the Rights Agreement,
dated as of November 12, 1998, between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank
Minnesota, N.A. (formerly, Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A.), as Rights Agent,
together with the exhibits thereto, pursuant to which the Rights were created,
(iv) the orders of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, dated November 1,
2002, the Montana Public Service Commission, dated November 19, 2002, and the
Public Service Commission of Wyoming, dated November 14, 2002 (collectively, the
"Orders"), and (v) such other instruments, certificates, records and documents,
and such matters of law, as I have considered necessary or appropriate for the
purposes hereof.


<PAGE>


     Based on the foregoing, subject to the limitations and qualifications
contained in this opinion, and provided the Orders remain in full force and
effect and have not been amended, rescinded or repealed, I am of the opinion
that:

     1.   The Company is a corporation validly organized and existing under the
          laws of the State of Delaware.

     2.   When the Shares have been sold as contemplated in the Registration
          Statement and the related Prospectus, they will be validly issued,
          fully paid and non-assessable.

     3.   When the Rights have been issued as contemplated in the Registration
          Statement and the related Prospectus, they will be validly issued and
          will represent legally binding obligations of the Company under the
          laws of the State of Delaware.

     Insofar as the opinions expressed herein relate to the law of the State of
New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the applicable
provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial decisions
interpreting the Delaware laws, or the federal laws of the United States of
America, I have relied on the opinion of even date herewith of Thelen Reid &
Priest LLP, counsel to the Company, which opinion is to be filed, along with
this opinion, as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, which
will be dated on or about the date hereof.

     I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to me therein. In giving the
foregoing consent, I do not thereby admit that I am in the category of persons
whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder.

                                            Very truly yours,


                                            /s/ Cynthia J. Norland, Esq.
                                            ----------------------------
                                            CYNTHIA J. NORLAND, ESQ.
                                            ACTING GENERAL COUNSEL

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
