-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KKGqUmJElRKDmpCvr/Ppl73BjNSqkJFdpkFAlxyBu6SFH7lcW60AvyIkaM7q7Nq+
 Hpsq7P716uD0A8yuEvyfAQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000854560-04-000005.txt : 20040202
<SEC-HEADER>0000854560-04-000005.hdr.sgml : 20040202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040202181439
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000854560-04-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040121
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040202

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000854560
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				431524856
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1451 E BATTLEFIELD
		CITY:			SPRINGFIELD
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			65804
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4177764400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 9009
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 9009
		CITY:			SPRINGFIELD
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			65808-9009

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LARIMORE ALBERT L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001108322
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6036]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18082
		FILM NUMBER:		04560417

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		621 CULLY
		CITY:			REPUBLIC
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			65738
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4178874400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1451 E BATTLEFIELD
		CITY:			REPUBLIC
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			65738
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000854560</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GSBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001108322</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LARIMORE ALBERT L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1451 E BATTLEFIELD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REPUBLIC</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>65738</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Secretary</officerTitle>
            <otherText>Vice President of Subsidiary</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>47.08</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>557</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Matt Snyder, Attorney-in-fact for Albert L. Larimore</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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