Exhibit 99.3


                     Press Release Announcing Appointment of
                Terry D. Hildestad as President, CEO and Director









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            MDU Resources Names Hildestad President, CEO and Director

BISMARCK, N.D. - Aug. 17, 2006 -- MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) announced
today the appointment of Terry D. Hildestad, 57, to the position of president
and chief executive officer for the corporation and named him to the MDU
Resources Board of Directors. Hildestad has been serving as president and chief
operating officer for the corporation since May 1, 2005. Hildestad replaces
Martin A. White, who retired today from his position of chairman and chief
executive officer. Harry J. Pearce, lead director, was elected chairman of the
board.

"Terry will do an outstanding job as chief executive of MDU Resources," said
White. "We have been working closely together for the past year, and I have
every confidence in his ability to lead this corporation to even greater
success. He has deep knowledge of our operating companies, and he is committed
to creating superior shareholder value by focusing on selective acquisitions and
measured organic growth. He is dedicated to excellent customer service, to
administrative efficiency and to making our corporation a safe and great place
to work."

Pearce said, "The board conducted an extensive selection process, and we were
impressed with Terry's experience and his ability to lead an organization
through a time of tremendous earnings and operational growth. When he served as
president and CEO of Knife River Corporation, it assimilated more than 50
companies and had more than $1.3 billion in revenues with consistent growth in
profits. He has served as a studious and thoughtful mentee for the past year
under Martin's mentorship and did a wonderful job as president and COO. We look
forward to working with him as we enter the next generation of growth for MDU
Resources."

Hildestad began his career with the company in 1974 at Knife River, the
construction materials and mining subsidiary of MDU Resources, where he served
in several operating positions before becoming its president in 1991. A North
Dakota native, Hildestad holds a bachelor's degree from Dickinson (N.D.) State
University and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard School
of Business. He serves on the Western North Dakota US Bank Advisory Board and on
the Dickinson State University Foundation Board. Hildestad and his wife,
Katharine, have three children and two grandchildren.




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