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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 Z2vakA/NgENtlRoh2awwVQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000067716-03-000033.txt : 20030702
<SEC-HEADER>0000067716-03-000033.hdr.sgml : 20030702
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030702153754
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000067716-03-000033
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030702

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EVERIST THOMAS S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188880

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03480
		FILM NUMBER:		03771851

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 5107
		CITY:			SIOUX FALLS
		STATE:			SD
		ZIP:			57117-5107
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6053350100

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>c0001188880d20030702f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-30</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000067716</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MDU RESOURCES GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MDU</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188880</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EVERIST THOMAS S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-30</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>361.981</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyin
gSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>361.981</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6912.182</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><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.  These units do not have either an exercise date or an expiration date.  The dates used are at the direction of the SEC because the SEC electronic filing system will not accept this form with these two date fields 
blank.</footnote><footnote id="F4">The SEC electronic filing system does not show current status of stock ownership in Table I or Table II.  The information which would be included if the SEC electronic filing system allowed it would be:
Table I:  Mr. Everist owns 13,050 shares of common stock (direct) and 1,740,000 shares of common stock (indirect by corporation).
Table II:  Mr. Everist has 2,250 stock options at a price of $21.625 with an expiration date of 5/13/2010; 2,250 stock options at a price of $23.0833 with an expiration date of 6/4/2008; 2,250 stock options at a price of $23.3125 with an expiration date of 6/4/2009; 3,000 stock options at a price of $29.315 with an expiration date of 5/16/2012 and 3,000 stock options at a price of $38.55 with an expiration date of 5/17/2011.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Lester H. Loble, II</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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