For the past 36 years, the Becker Lions have hosted the annual Lange Home Christmas party. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church provides a school bus to pick up the residents at Lange’s Home south of Santiago and shuttle them to the annual event. The past several years, the party has been held at Jack and Jim’s Event Center because of the large space available.
In previous years, the party has been held at Bailey Rays and the Hanging Kettle in Santiago. No matter the location, the goal of the party is the same each year - to bless the residents. In the process, the residents bless everyone hosting the party.
For the past few years, I have helped coordinate music for the Lange Home Christmas party, arranging musicians (steel guitar, accordion, drums, bass guitar and I have played the keyboard to provide music during the event). This year we enjoyed a wonderful five piece band. Instead of playing keyboard in the band this year, I helped lead a Christmas carol singalong with a few of my sisters and a couple church friends for Lange’s residents and Lions members.
The Lange Home has always been very special to me and my family. My family has been Christmas caroling at Lange’s almost every December since the early 1960’s as a part a group of South Santiago Lutheran Church Sunday School children. My older siblings took us along from the time were in kindergarten. My family continues to visit Lange’s to sing carols almost every year around Christmas.
It warmed my heart earlier this week when my son, Alex, shared with me what fond memories he has of our family tradition of singing carols at Lange’s Home every year. Alex told me it was a really special time with his cousins and they were glad to brighten the residents’ day. Everyone who sang was always treated to a generous gift of their choice of a full size candy bar from a shiny tin bowl when leaving Lange’s.
Kurt Anderson, Becker, has been a Lion in Becker for 37 years. Kurt told me he really enjoys being a Lion and considers it a privilege to help better the lives of people in the Becker community.
Jim Hazeltine, and his wife Sharon, recently moved to Clearwater after living in Becker Township for 24 years. Hazeltine is a long-time Becker Lions member (1978). Jim was first a Big Lake Lions member in 1977 and switched to the Becker group after moving here in 1978.
“I enjoy the things we do for people. Knowing the Lange’s residents look forward to the annual Christmas party is satisfying.” Jim told me they also are happy to help with a variety of need in the community, such as providing Becker schools with items that fall outside of the school budget.
For example, Becker Lions recently helped by purchasing a swimming pool lift and handicapped equipment. Hazeltine said: “We keep in touch with the eye doctor in town (Insight Eyecare, Becker). The Lions are champions of the blind and hearing impaired. If local students need glasses and cannot afford them, we often provide for them. The Lions also collect glasses which are distributed to the less fortunate around the world.”
Lions make a point to serve people who are less fortunate, sick, poor and elderly and their motto is “WE SERVE”.
Becker Lions have been busy elves, helping out with Santa’s pancake breakfast last weekend at the Becker Community Center. They will host the Easter Bunny in the spring and sell beverages at Freedom Days. They host an annual fish fry in the spring and work the food stand at McDonalds Meats in Clear Lake to raise funds to help local folks in need all year round.
If you are interested in joining the Becker Lions, they welcome new members. They meet at the old Becker Fire Hall on the second Monday of every month at 7 p.m.
Special thanks to the Becker Lions for doing a great job of helping out in our community! Your generous spirit is an inspiration.
