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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,
 U8BnMrjOZAqYKRuRhkEf4GBUWJEm1fR0n9EEeR6MEDGh1ougRw/xOpGN7aOwy/w2
 08BAMyd9uNbH8oFe+ifBYw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001183010-04-000101.txt : 20041025
<SEC-HEADER>0001183010-04-000101.hdr.sgml : 20041025
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041025112355
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001183010-04-000101
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041025
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041025
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041025

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEE ENTERPRISES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000058361
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NEWSPAPERS:  PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING [2711]
		IRS NUMBER:				420823980
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 PUTNAM BLDG
		STREET 2:		215 N MAIN ST
		CITY:			DAVENPORT
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			52801
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3193832100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 PUTNAM BUILDING
		STREET 2:		215 N. MAIN STREET
		CITY:			DAVENPORT
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			52801

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CRAIN RANCE E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001021391
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06227
		FILM NUMBER:		041093207

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LEE ENTERPRISES INC
		STREET 2:		215 MAIN ST
		CITY:			DAVENPORT
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			52801
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3193243246

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LEE ENTERPRISES INC
		STREET 2:		215 MAIN ST
		CITY:			DAVENPORT
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			52801
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>crainform4032_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000058361</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LEE ENTERPRISES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LEE ENT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001021391</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CRAIN RANCE E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>LEE ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>201 N. HARRISON ST., STE. 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DAVENPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>52801</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>263</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>38.670</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15264</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reporting Person's retired as a director as of January 21, 2004, prior to which he has been a participant in the issuer's
Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors, under which participants may elect in writing to receive
all or 50 percent of their director compensation, which would otherwise be payable in cash, in shares of Common Stock. The
number of shares awarded was determined by dividing the amount of the compensation to be paid by the closing price of the
Company's Common Stock as reported for NYSE-Composite Transactions on the trading day immediately preceding the date of
payment and rounding to the nearest whole number. Elections under this section must be made at least 1 week prior to the
beginning of the Company's next fiscal quarter. A change in an election is effective, if timely made, beginning with the
Company's next fiscal quarter. Reporting Person will be issued 263 shares of Common Stock (inclusive of accrued dividends),</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">at a range of prices between $38.670-$43.650 for the period 9-30-03 - 12-31-03.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Edmund H. Carroll, Lmtd. POA, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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