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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RoVOKf5bPjMUt3ueTHYHaFfhaNNiZshMVMjg2Sb4p9nQ3kRf8ik9m5h4uL2KjO/z
 sl9rI4OdUN+edVPMUed88w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-012569.txt : 20031215
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-012569.hdr.sgml : 20031215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031215154445
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-012569
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031212
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031215

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MOLBERT LAURIS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185776

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19368
		FILM NUMBER:		031054587

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 9156
		CITY:			FARGO
		STATE:			ND
		ZIP:			58106
		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 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-12-12</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000857593</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMUNITY FIRST BANKSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CFBX</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185776</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOLBERT LAURIS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>OTTER TAIL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 9156</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FARGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>ND</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>58106</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock (CFBX)</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-12</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>500</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>28.66</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes></footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Galen O. Skarphol, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-12-15</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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