-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PE9RWz7N6hublaYxoIntjvOml0adgO9XnxPWv4O1OAnABWA6FTOM5QyvlAVcd4yX
 56pgmqrA3+qoZv++Lq6xDQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001183010-04-000134.txt : 20041213
<SEC-HEADER>0001183010-04-000134.hdr.sgml : 20041213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041213114928
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001183010-04-000134
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041213
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041213

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PHELPS MICHAEL E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001162569

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06227
		FILM NUMBER:		041198010

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LEE ENTERPRISES INC
		STREET 2:		215 N MAIN STREET STE 400
		CITY:			DAVENPORT
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			52801
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5633243246

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>phelpsform4035_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001162569</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PHELPS MICHAEL E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>LEE ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>201 N HARRISON STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DAVENPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>52801</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1081</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>45.9778</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11350</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Scrivener's mistake resulting in the over-reporting of the actual grant by 600 shares reported in Form 4 filed November 22,
 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Edmund H. Carroll, Lmtd. POA, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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