Name: Dean Kelly

From: Fullerton, N.D.

To: Rush Valley

Not many Tooele County residents think of Rush Valley as a city, but that's the way one of the county's newest residents describes it.

Dean Kelly, 65, moved out to Rush Valley last week. The retiring war veteran and cowboy from North Dakota wanted a peaceful retirement in a place more populated than his former residence.

Kelly had visited Rush Valley before moving to Utah.

"Back in my golden days of rodeo I used to live in Wyoming and we would travel out to the city of St. John for the rodeo," he said. When I thought about retiring I instantly thought of Rush Valley."

Kelly's former hometown of Fullerton had a sparse population of 45 people, so moving to Tooele County is like moving to the big city for Kelly. He also chose to move to Rush Valley because he needed land to house his two horses, Buck and Sally.

"I was never married and they're like my kids; darn stubborn as teenagers too," Kelly laughed.

There isn't much to complain about in Rush Valley, according to Kelly.

"I needed a wide-open space to retire I guess," he said, "but not too wide-open."

compiled by Natalie Tripp

If you're a newcomer or know of a newcomer who'd like to share the story of why they moved to Tooele County, please contact Sarah Miley at (435) 882-0050 or via e-mail at swest@tooeletranscript.com.