'The Sheer Beauty Of Montana Just Intrigues Me': Meet The People Of Livingston

Our 19th stop on the Listen To America road trip was Livingston, Montana.

We posted up at the Livingston Depot Center to chat with residents and passers-by. Here’s what they had to say:

“I believe what keeps me back is the reverence for the land there. For the Native Americans, it was called the Valley of the Flowers. There was one rule, that nobody fought. No matter if they were warring tribes. If they were in that valley, they couldn’t fight.”

― Troy Bertelsen, life/death/connection performance coach

“When the opportunity came, we moved out here. Love Montana, love Livingston in particular. I think it’s a pretty unique community.”

― Barbara Lopez-Lucio, 66, freelance medical editor

“I’m a fourth-generation Montanan. I love the mountains. And I was a mountain climber when I was younger.”

― Helen Mulroney, 69, retired French teacher

“I’m just a Montanan from the ground up. I love the state of Montana because it has every kind of culture and diversity and also climate. ... The sheer beauty of Montana just intrigues me.”

― Jo Anne Troxel, 84, grass-roots organizer, writer, poet, teacher

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“My husband and I moved here 20 years ago. ... We moved here because we could afford to live here as artists.”

― Bonnie Goodman 53, glass bead-maker at Mordam Art

“There’s something about the spirit of Montana. It’s raw. It’s fresh. It feels like the Wild West in some ways.”

― Lei-Anna Bertelsen, 52, self-employed education consultant

“I’m from here. I’ve traveled to two countries and around the U.S. But I haven’t found a place that appeals to me like Montana does.”

― Perry Hofferber, 68, retired

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Also on HuffPost

The HuffPost bus stops in Livingston, Montana, for the "Listen To America" tour on Oct. 16, 2017.
The HuffPost bus stops in Livingston, Montana, for the "Listen To America" tour on Oct. 16, 2017.
Pedestrians visit the HuffPost bus.
Pedestrians visit the HuffPost bus.
A table with postcards sits at the HuffPost video activation site.
A table with postcards sits at the HuffPost video activation site.
Lei-Anna Bertelsen, Troy Bertelsen and Perry Hofferber chat near the HuffPost tents.
Lei-Anna Bertelsen, Troy Bertelsen and Perry Hofferber chat near the HuffPost tents.
Photographer Allen Russell talks with HuffPost staff before his interview. 
Photographer Allen Russell talks with HuffPost staff before his interview. 
HuffPost's video activation site was the Livingston Depot Center building.
HuffPost's video activation site was the Livingston Depot Center building.
Melissa Nootz plays a game of cornhole with her daughters Esmé and Iris.
Melissa Nootz plays a game of cornhole with her daughters Esmé and Iris.
Rebecca Halperin steps into the bus, whose surface reflects the Livingston Depot Center.
Rebecca Halperin steps into the bus, whose surface reflects the Livingston Depot Center.
HuffPost staffer Samantha Tomaszewski works.
HuffPost staffer Samantha Tomaszewski works.
Helen Mulroney and Jo Anne Troxel check out a flyer.
Helen Mulroney and Jo Anne Troxel check out a flyer.
Hayley Miller tries to recruit people to be interviewed.
Hayley Miller tries to recruit people to be interviewed.
Patricia Grabow is interviewed.
Patricia Grabow is interviewed.
A view of the Murray Hotel from the Livingston Depot Center.
A view of the Murray Hotel from the Livingston Depot Center.
Moderator Greg Veis (far right) sits with panelists Walter Kirn, Seabring Davis and Jamie Harrison Potenberg during the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" event at Elk River Books.
Moderator Greg Veis (far right) sits with panelists Walter Kirn, Seabring Davis and Jamie Harrison Potenberg during the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" event at Elk River Books.
Walter Kirn speaks during the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" event.
Walter Kirn speaks during the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" event.
The audience fills the event space at Elk River Books to hear the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" discussion.
The audience fills the event space at Elk River Books to hear the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" discussion.
Jamie Harrison Potenberg speaks during the event. 
Jamie Harrison Potenberg speaks during the event. 
Ted Madden ask questions of the panelists during the Q&A part of the forum.
Ted Madden ask questions of the panelists during the Q&A part of the forum.
Seabring Davis speaks during the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" discussion.
Seabring Davis speaks during the "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" discussion.
Moderator Greg Veis addresses the crowd.
Moderator Greg Veis addresses the crowd.
A mural depicts life in Livingston, which lies just north of Yellowstone National Park.
A mural depicts life in Livingston, which lies just north of Yellowstone National Park.
The HuffPost tour bus crosses the Yellowstone River.
The HuffPost tour bus crosses the Yellowstone River.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.