8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                              --------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) February 10, 2005

                            MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                      1-3480                     41-0423660
(State of Incorporation)           (Commission                 (IRS Employer
                                   File Number)              Identification No.)

                               Schuchart Building
                             918 East Divide Avenue
                                  P.O. Box 5650
                        Bismarck, North Dakota 58506-5650
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
                                   (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (701) 222-7900



Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
     (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





ITEM 5.02   DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR PRINCIPAL OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS;
            APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

     On February 10, 2005, MDU Resources Group, Inc. (the "Company") announced
the retirement of Homer A. Scott, Jr. from the Company's Board of Directors,
effective February 10, 2005.

     The press release which is incorporated by reference herein is attached as
Exhibit 99.

ITEM 9.01.  FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND EXHIBITS.

         (c)      Exhibits

         99       Press Release issued February 10, 2005, regarding the
                  retirement of Homer A. Scott, Jr. from the MDU Resources
                  Group, Inc. Board of Directors.





                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


Dated: February 11, 2005



                                           MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC.


                                           By:  /s/ Vernon A. Raile
                                              ---------------------------------
                                                Vernon A. Raile
                                                Senior Vice President
                                                and Chief Accounting Officer





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number          Description of Exhibit
- --------------          ----------------------

     99                 Press release issued February 10, 2005, regarding the
                        retirement of Homer A. Scott, Jr. from the MDU Resources
                        Group, Inc. Board of Directors.

EX-99

                      MDU RESOURCES DIRECTOR SCOTT RETIRES



BISMARCK, ND - Feb. 10, 2005 - MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) announces
the retirement of Homer A. Scott, Jr. from its Board of Directors effective Feb.
10, 2005. Scott has been a member of the MDU Resources board since May 1981 and
has served as a member of the finance, compensation and audit committees of the
board. He also was chairman of the audit committee for 17 years. Scott's
retirement is the result of a provision in the company's bylaws which requires
that outside directors retire when they reach age 70.

"Scotty's expertise and insight will be missed by all the members of our Board
of Directors," said Martin A. White, chairman of the board, president and chief
executive officer of MDU Resources. "In addition to his knowledge of the
financial side of business, he also has an extensive background in the
construction materials industry. Scotty, through his long history with our
corporation, has a broad knowledge of all of our lines of business. He is not
only a hard worker, but also the type of person with whom everyone enjoys
working. Scotty was a true advocate for our stockholders and has a talent for
balancing their needs with those of our employees and customers."


MDU Resources Group, Inc., a member of the S&P MidCap 400 index, provides
value-added natural resource products and related services that are essential to
the energy and transportation infrastructure. MDU Resources includes natural gas
and oil production, construction materials and mining, domestic and
international independent power production, electric and natural gas utilities,
natural gas pipelines and energy services, and utility services. For more
information about MDU Resources, see the company's Web site at www.mdu.com or
contact the investor relations department at investor@mduresources.com.