Exhibit 5(a)

                            Cynthia J. Norland, Esq.
                   Acting General Counsel and Acting Secretary
                            MDU Resources Group, Inc.
                               Schuchart Building
                      918 East Divide Avenue, P.O. Box 5650
                        Bismarck, North Dakota 58506-5650




                                                     January 20, 2004



MDU Resources Group, Inc.
Schuchart Building
918 East Divide Avenue, P.O. Box 5650
Bismarck, North Dakota  58506-5650

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          I am Acting General Counsel and Acting Secretary of MDU Resources
Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"). This opinion is being
rendered in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") to be filed on or about the date hereof with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by the Company under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act"), for the registration
of 1,500,000 shares of its common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Stock")
and the preference share purchase rights attached thereto (the "Rights"), for
offer and sale in connection with the MDU Resources Group, Inc. 1998 Option
Award Program.

          In connection with this opinion, I have examined originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of (i) the Registration
Statement, (ii) the Rights Agreement, dated as of November 12, 1998, between the
Company and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota,
N.A.), as Rights Agent, together with the exhibits thereto (the "Rights
Agreement"), pursuant to which the Rights were created, (iii) the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, as amended, of the Company, as in
effect on the date hereof, (iv) resolutions of the Board of Directors of the
Company, dated February 15, 2001, authorizing the issuance of the Stock and (v)
such other instruments, certificates, records and documents, and such matters of
law, as I have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes hereof.

          Based upon the foregoing, subject to the limitations and
qualifications contained in this opinion, I am of the opinion that:

          1. The Company is a corporation validly organized and existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware.





          2. The issuance of the Stock has been duly authorized by the Board of
Directors of the Company.

          3. When the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Montana Public
Service Commission and the Public Service Commission of Wyoming shall have
issued orders authorizing the issuance and sale of the Stock, and provided that
such orders remain in full force and effect and have not been amended, rescinded
or repealed, upon issuance and delivery of the Stock and the receipt by the
Company of the consideration therefor, as set forth in the Plan, the Stock will
be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

          4. The issuance of the Rights has been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and, when issued in
accordance with the Rights Agreement, the Rights will be legally issued and
binding obligations of the Company.

          Insofar as the opinions expressed herein relate to the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the applicable provisions of the
Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting the
Delaware laws, or the federal laws of the United States of America, I have
relied on the opinion of even date herewith of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae,
L.L.P., counsel to the Company, which opinion is to be filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement.

          I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the use of my name, as counsel, therein. In giving
the foregoing consent, I do not thereby admit that I am in the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the
rules or regulations of the Commission thereunder.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             /s/ Cynthia J. Norland

                                             Cynthia J. Norland
                                             Acting General Counsel and
                                               Acting Secretary