<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-27</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000892449</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VENTURE FINANCIAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>N/A</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001034304</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PARSONS KEN F SR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>PRESIDENT/CEO/CHAIRMAN</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7318</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>6.99</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>295983</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>34700</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>8.64</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>330683</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.99</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7318</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1999-08-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-07-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7318</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>212530</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>8.64</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>34700</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1997-03-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-02-28</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>34700</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>177830</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Aggregate amount includes 6,580 shares held in an IRA account for Mr. Parsons's benefit; 3,643 shares held indirectly in an IRA account for the benefit of Mr. Parsons's wife; 66,508 shares held indirectly in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan for the benefit of Mr. Parsons's; and 219,252 shares held jointly with Mr. Parsons's wife.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Aggregate amount includes 6,580 shares held in an IRA account for Mr. Parsons's benefit; 3,643 shares held indirectly in an IRA account for the benefit of Mr. Parsons's wife; 66,508 shares held indirectly in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan for the benefit of Mr. Parsons's; and 253,952 shares held jointly with Mr. Parsons's wife.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/S/ LEIGH BAXTER, ATTORNEY IN FACT</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-11</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

