Statement of Changes of Beneficial Ownership

   
FORM 4
[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).         
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
                                                                                  
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Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
                      

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *

SPIES GARY J 		2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

OTTER TAIL CORP [ OTTR ] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)

__ X __ Director                      _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below)      _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)          (First)          (Middle)

215 S CASCADE ST 		3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY)

9/30/2003
(Street)

FERGUS FALLS, MN 56537-2801
(City)        (State)        (Zip)
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)

 
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

_ X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3) 		2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YYYY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YYYY) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8) 		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 		5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4) 		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivate Security
(Instr. 3) 		2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YYYY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YYYY) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8) 		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 3 and 4) 		8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5) 		9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Unit     (1) 9/30/2003     A     379.7949         (2)   (3) Common Stock   379.7949   $26.33   3612.7354   (4) D    

Explanation of Responses:
( 1)  These are Restricted Stock Units and have no conversion or exercise price at this time.
( 2)  There is no specific "Exercisable Date" on these Restricted Stock Units.
( 3)  There is no specific "Expiration Date" on these Restricted Stock Units.
( 4)  Restricted Stock Units of Common Stock acquired under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan at fair market value as part of the Compensation Program for Outside Directors. See below for other holdings: 1. Direct holding of 1,040 shares of Common Stock, 1,000 of this total are held jointly with his wife in "street name" through Piper Jaffray. 2. Direct holding of 511.7013 shares of Common Stock held in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan. 3. Direct holding of 2,050 shares of Common Stock which is a grant of Restricted Stock. 4. Direct holding of 250 shares of Common Stock which no longer carries the restriction. 5. 2,000 stock options with expiration date of 4/8/2011.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address
Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
SPIES GARY J
215 S CASCADE ST
FERGUS FALLS, MN 56537-2801 		X


Signatures
/s/ Gary J Spies by Debra J Lill - POA 10/1/2003
** Signature of Reporting Person Date


Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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