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 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(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * DARCY RANDY G   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol GENERAL MILLS INC [GIS] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Senior Vice President (Last) (First) (Middle) GENERAL MILLS, INC., NUMBER ONE GENERAL MILLS BLVD 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 12/13/2004 (Street) MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55426-1113 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 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 COMMON STOCK 12/13/2004   F   422 D $ 46.965 0 D   RESTRICTED UNITS 12/13/2004   A   5,157 (2) A $ 0 76,984 D   COMMON STOCK               5,658 I See Footnote (1) COMMON STOCK               407 I See Footnote (3)

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

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 (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (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

OPTION TO BUY

$ 46.97

12/13/2004

A

61,875

12/13/2008(5)

01/13/2015

COMMON STOCK

61,875

(4)

61,875

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
DARCY RANDY G GENERAL MILLS, INC. NUMBER ONE GENERAL MILLS BLVD MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55426-1113			Senior Vice President

Signatures

Elizabeth Wittenberg by Power of Attorney on behalf of RANDY DARCY		12/14/2004
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	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).
(1)	Held in Trust by the Trustee of the General Mills Savings Plan.
(2)	Restricted stock unit award granted under the General Mills 2003 Stock Compensation Plan by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of General Mills - no set value.
(3)	By adult child. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership.
(4)	Employee option (right to buy) granted by the Compensation Committee of Board of Directors of General Mills, Inc. under shareholder-approved stock option plans.
(5)	This option becomes 100% exercisable four (4) years from date of grant.

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