UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 5
ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
( ) Check box if no longer subject to Section 16.
Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instructions 1(b).
( ) Form 3 Holdings Reported
(X) Form 4 Transactions Reported
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person
DIETRICH, ALAN D
125 S DAKOTA AVE SUITE 1100
SIOUX FALLS, SD 57104
USA
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
NOR
3. IRS or Social Security Number of Reporting Person (Voluntary)
4. Statement for Month/Year
12/98
5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year)
6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
( ) Director ( ) 10% Owner (X) Officer (give title below) ( ) Other
(specify below)
VICE PRESIDENT LAW & CORPORATE SECRETARY
7. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting (Check Applicable Line)
(X) Form filed by One Reporting Person
( ) Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
<TABLE>
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Table I -- Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned |
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1. Title of Security |2. |3. |4.Securities Acquired (A) |5.Amount of |6.Dir |7.Nature of Indirect |
|Transaction| or Disposed of (D) | Securities |ect | Beneficial Ownership |
|Date |Code| | Beneficially |(D)or | |
| | | | A/| | Owned at |Indir | |
| | | Amount | D | Price | End of Year |ect(I)| |
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
COMMON STOCK |* |R |118.981 |A |# |3233.054 |D | |
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COMMON STOCK |+ |B |161.0229 |A |# |6483.4421 |D | |
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COMMON STOCK | | | | | |955.9477 |D |S 401(K) |
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COMMON STOCK |* |R |63.508 |A |# |1718.594 |I |DAUGHTER |
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Table II -- Derivative Securitites Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned |
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1.Title of Derivative |2.Con |3. |4. |5.Number of De |6.Date Exer|7.Title and Amount |8.Price|9.Number |10.|11.Nature of|
Security |version |Transaction rivative Secu |cisable and| of Underlying |of Deri|of Deriva |Dir|Indirect |
|or Exer |Date |Code| rities Acqui |Expiration | Securities |vative |tive |ect|Beneficial |
|cise Pr | | | red(A) or Dis |Date(Month/| |Secu |Securities |(D)|Ownership |
|ice of | | | posed of(D) |Day/Year) | |rity |Benefi |or | |
|Deriva | | | |Date |Expir| | |ficially |Ind| |
|tive | | | | A/|Exer-|ation| Title and Number | |Owned at |ire| |
|Secu | | | | D |cisa-|Date | of Shares | |End of |ct | |
|rity | | | Amount | |ble | | | |Year |(I)| |
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PHANTOM STOCK UNITS | |3-1-9|A |54.9905 |A | |% |COMMON STOCK|54.9905|23.1250|4234.3423 |D | |
| |8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
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PHANTOM STOCK UNITS | |6-1-9|A |41.2970 |A | |% |COMMON STOCK|41.2970|24.1250|4234.3423 |D | |
| |8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
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PHANTOM STOCK UNITS | |9-1-9|A |39.4628 |A | |% |COMMON STOCK|39.4628|25.5000|4234.3423 |D | |
| |8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
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PHANTOM STOCK UNITS | |12-1-|A |45.1815 |A | |% |COMMON STOCK|45.1815|23.8750|4234.3423 |D | |
| |98 | | | | | | | | | | | |
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INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS | | | | | | | |COMMON STOCK| | |6200.000 |D | |
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</TABLE>
Explanation of Responses:
* SHARES ACQUIRED THRU DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN FROM 3-1-98 THRU
12-1-98
# PRICES RANGE FROM $23.142 TO
$25.903
+ SHARES ACQUIRED THRU ESOP FROM 3-1-98 THRU
12-1-98
% PHANTOM STOCK UNITS MATURE 5 YEARS FROM DATE OF
AWARD
SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
/S/ ALAN D DIETRICH
DATE
1-28-99
