EXHIBIT 23.1


                             [EIDE BAILLY LLP LOGO]


                        Independent Accountants' Consent



The Board of Directors and Stockholders
First Interstate BancSystem, Inc.

We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement on Form
S-8 (Registration No. 333-76825) of our report dated June 19, 2002 relating to
the statement of net assets available for benefits of the Savings and Profit
Sharing Plan for Employees of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. as of December
31, 2001 and the related statement of changes in net assets available for
benefits and the supplemental schedule of assets held for investment purposes at
year end for the year ended December 31, 2001, which report appears in the
December 31, 2001 report on Form 11-K of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc.


/s/ Eide Bailly LLP



Billings, Montana
June 21, 2002