Area couple works to light up the Randolph night for the Holidays
Angie Steffen
Randolph Times
RANDOLPH - Take a drive along Highway 20. Near its junction with Highway 81 your path will swing past the glimmering home of Ben and Jean Gall.
A good example of what you see might be The Night Before Christmas sight described, "When what to my wondering eyes should appear...'' and if talking about this yard it would be: a house lit up so well and so bright that many people call it the light of the ''Gingerbread house.''
Perhaps, just maybe, this house can outshine the northern lights. If Chevy Chase as Clark W. "Sparky" Griswold Jr. from Christmas Vacation lived next door, he would be envious.
"I do get called Clark Griswold and even have a jersey with 'Griswold' on the back. It's not a battle of Christmas lights,'' Ben said. "The light show has evolved. It is about the spirit of Christmas which is what I most enjoy about Christmas. Since we moved to the country and put up the lights we have been told, 'Our house brings immense joy.'''
Inside the home are two people with enough Christmas spirit to light up the night for others enough to stop in awe and wonder as they rush by on one of Nebraska's busiest highways.
"I have someone from Bloomfield who picks up their daughter at the airport on the day after Thanksgiving and drives back home for the holidays and stops every year to see the lights at our home,'' Ben said. "A father who was divorced said he brought his kids with him to see the lights every year. The lights give him hope. I have been told our house brings happiness. Our Christmas home display has become mentioned to us as "the Gingerbread house.'''
People might wonder, "Do they keep the lights on their house year round?''
The Galls go through the work of assembling the Christmas lights each year.
"This year I was a week behind and had the house over half done with three sides done,'' Ben said.
This year the Galls needed help putting up the lights.
"The lights mean a lot because we can share Christmas with people around us outside. I have five Christmas trees that I put up inside,'' Jean said.
The Galls said most of the time no one else sees the inside of the house yet they still decorate as it gets them in the Christmas spirit.
They found they had the Covid virus about a month ago in mid-November. The virus affected Ben much deeper by giving him balance issues, requiring oxygen for him and forcing him to deal with something called Covid Brain. Ben was in the hospital within a couple hours of being diagnosed with Covid due to pneumonia.
Ben is used to helping others as a corrections officer and 911 dispatcher for the Cedar County Sheriff's Department for 12 years. Jean is also in a career of helping others as a registered nurse she helps individuals in nursing homes and works as a coding nurse billing consultant. They have lived in Randolph for 18 years. Now it was time for others to help him and his family. Others showed up to finish the lights for him.
He is also being helped by others as he participates not only in medical care, but also is involved in speech and cognitive therapy. He said he is striving to get used to a new routine that requires quite a bit of rest. He did spend time in Osmond at the hospital as Norfolk and Yankton, S.D. had no Covid beds available.
"When I have a restful day, it helps,'' he said.
Despite his need for rest, Ben and his wife decided to host an event on Dec. 12 at their home for hot cocoa, cookies and a visit from Santa himself.
"We thought it would be a good distraction from all we were facing,'' Ben said.
The couple put out an invite that said, "With Covid being a very real issue in our world we plan to hold this event outside on the deck, so dress warm and try to observe social distancing. Santa will be available and ready for children of all ages.
This event isn't free. We are asking for non perishable foods for the local food pantries or new toys (for Toys for Tots).
We are encouraging the use of masks for the safety of all. Patio heaters will be present as well as a warming fire.
We encourage this event to be shared with all.''
Ben said he spaced the space heaters to give a good outline of social distancing for the event.
"We have never accepted or asked for help in regard to money for ourselves,'' Ben said.
He said the event was a way to reach out to others and find a way to help others.
"This wouldn't have happened without community,'' Ben said. "We had a lot of help from family, community and friends.''
The help began with the assistance with Christmas lighting assembly and continued with joining in and giving for others in need of food and toys during this season.
"There was also a basketball playoff that evening,'' Ben said. "Even with that going on we were busy throughout. I kept the covered fire pit going outside and my wife kept the wrapped cookies and cocoa going. There were no issues since we were outside.''
Everyone stayed six feet apart and even Santa wore a mask, according to Ben.
"I recognized quite a few people even though that evening I was tied to an oxygen line,'' he said. "Most everyone had masks on as well.''
The Galls are no longer contagious.
Ben was born in Yankton, S.D. and graduated from Yankton High School. His parents are Riley and Janiece Gall of Yankton, S.D. He has two brothers. He is the oldest son.
Ben has an architecture and design associate's degree from Northeast Community College and a bachelor of science degree in sociology and criminal justice from Wayne State College.
Growing up Ben said he was raised in a festive home.
"Every holiday was big,'' he said.
Jean was raised in the Hartington and Bow Valley area. Her parents are Phil and Liz Kleinschmit of Fordyce and Bow Valley areas. She is the youngest of five. She earned a registered nurse degree from Northeast Community College.
The couple met 25 years ago through mutual friends in 1995 in Yankton, S.D.
They were married in June 1998 in Mission Hill, S.D.
"We were close friends first,'' Jean said. "There was a mutual attraction. We got along well and had common interests and common friends.''
Her husband agrees.
"You can safely say, 'I married my best friend,''' he said.
The Galls have two children: Magdalena, 21, of Aberdeen, S.D. and Derek, 24, of Alcester, S.D.
Derek had been living in Randolph, however with his needs for kidney medical concerns he has been moved closer to his doctor in Sioux Falls, S.D. by living in Alcester, S.D.
Derek came out the night before the big celebration so he could also be a part of the festivities. He has to participate in dialysis 12 hours of the day. He found he had kidney problems when he was having problems with water retention. He was first put on medication.
The Gall children have not had the virus.
The Gall's daughter decorates her dorm rooms extensively for Christmas. She attends college at Presentation College in Aberdeen, S.D. with a volleyball scholarship.
Their son enjoys Christmas, although at a simpler level. He keeps busy with computers and music, according to Jean. His father said his son lives out a life that is more online due to his medical condition.
The Galls kept a drop box at their home for toys and canned goods after the event. If anyone wants to contact them about giving, they said they will find a way to help however they can, whether the food pantry or Toys for Tots programs.
The Galls hope to have the celebration again next year although earlier in December.
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