EXHIBIT 5.2

                                September 11, 2003



Western Wireless Corporation
3650 131st Avenue SE, Suite 400
Bellevue, WA 98006

      Re:   Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Western Wireless Corporation, a Washington
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration Statement on Form S-3
(the "Registration Statement") registering for resale by certain selling
security holders named in the Registration Statement $115,000,000 in aggregate
principal amount of the Company's 4.625% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2023
(the "Notes") and such indeterminate number of shares of the Company's Class A
Common Stock, without par value (the "Shares"), issuable upon conversion of such
Notes. The Notes were issued under an indenture (the "Indenture") dated as of
June 11, 2003 between the Company and The Bank of New York (the "Trustee").

We have reviewed the corporate action of the Company in connection with the
foregoing and have examined such documents, corporate records, and other
instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion letter.
We have assumed that (a) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Trustee and constitutes the valid and legally binding
obligation of the Trustee and (b) the Notes have been duly authenticated by the
Trustee.

This opinion letter is governed by, and shall be interpreted in accordance with,
the Legal Opinion Accord and the accompanying commentary and technical notes,
all as published in The Business Lawyer, Volume 47, No. 1, November 1991 (the
"Accord"), which are incorporated herein by this reference. As a consequence,
this opinion letter is subject to a number of assumptions, qualifications,
exceptions, definitions, limitations on coverage and other limitations, all as
more particularly described in the Accord, and this opinion letter should be
read in conjunction therewith. The law covered by the opinions expressed herein
is expressly limited to the Law (as defined in the Accord) of the State of
Washington and the Federal Law of the United States (the "Covered Law"). To the
extent that the law of any other jurisdiction other than those mentioned in the
prior sentence impact the opinions expressed herein, we assume in our opinions
that such law is the same as the Covered Law. No opinion is expressed as to the
effect that the law of any other jurisdiction might have upon the subject matter
of the opinions expressed herein under conflicts of law principles or otherwise.
We express no opinion except as expressly set forth in

the numbered paragraphs below and no opinions shall be implied. The opinions
expressed herein are opinions of legal matters and not factual matters.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations
stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Notes have been duly authorized by the Company and constitute valid and
legally binding obligations of the Company.

2. The Shares, when certificates representing the Shares have been duly
executed, countersigned, registered and delivered (or alternatively when the
statutory procedures for issuing shares without certificates have been
satisfied) upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with terms thereof, will
be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Our opinions are given as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation and
hereby disclaim any obligation to advise upon of any change in law, facts or
circumstances, occurring after the date hereof except in any additional or
supplemental opinions that we may render with respect to the Notes or Shares.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, including any and all
post-effective amendments and any registration statement relating to the same
offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act, and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus of the
Registration Statement under the heading "Legal Matters." In giving such
consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose
consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act. We hereby consent to
reliance by Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman LLP on the opinions set forth
herein as though addressed to them.

                                    Very truly yours,



                                    /s/ Preston Gates & Ellis LLP