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) December 26, 2000

                            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)

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


         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)





ITEM 5.   OTHER EVENTS.
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          On December 26, 2000, MDU Resources Group, Inc. (the "Company") sold
to Acqua Wellington North American Equities Fund, Ltd. ("Acqua Wellington")
263,420 shares of Company common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the
"Shares"), and the Preference Share Purchase Rights appurtenant thereto (the
"Rights") at an average purchase price of $28.9130 per share, for a total
purchase price of $7,616,272, pursuant to a Purchase Agreement by and between
the Company and Acqua Wellington, dated December 26, 2000. The Company received
proceeds from this sale of $7,616,272 and estimates its expenses relating
thereto to be $32,500. The Shares and the Rights are registered under The
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on Form S-3.

ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
          ---------------------------------

               (c) Exhibits.

                    99. Purchase Agreement, dated December 26, 2000.


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                                    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:  December 27, 2000

                                        MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC.


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


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


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

     99                  Purchase Agreement, dated December 26, 2000