-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WsXaBmCb1uXQ/VKD9N/icLmXRmRA58bWMtu+vccAQ+VD7sto2bGj1xmHFbgX+2T4
 /a5RcPJ00F3BsTWWUSeMZg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-002038.txt : 20030618
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-002038.hdr.sgml : 20030618
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030618160023
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-002038
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030618
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030618

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STRAND RONALD K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185785

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19368
		FILM NUMBER:		03748886

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 MAIN AVE.
		CITY:			FARGO
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58124
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7012985625

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMMUNITY FIRST BANKSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000857593
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				460391436
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 MAIN AVENUE
		CITY:			FARGO
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58124-0001
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7012985600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 MAIN AVENUE
		CITY:			FARGO
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58124-0001
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -2003-06-18
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-18</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000857593</issuerCik><issuerName>COMMUNITY FIRST BANKSHARES INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CFBX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001185785</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>STRAND RONALD K</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Co
mmon Stock (CFBX)</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>18000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>28.15</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>65854</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Galen O. Skarphol, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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