Becoming Mr. & Mrs. Claus

THE HEARTWARMING TALE OF RON & GERRI HANSON

BY ERICA KINGSTON

The month between Thanksgiving and Christmas is heavily laden with to-dos, events and anticipation. Two residents of the Zahl-Williston area have made it their business to be booked full by bringing an age-old tradition of Christmas cheer to those who come to visit.

For nearly two decades now, Ron and Gerri Hanson have spent their holiday season transforming into the very essence that is the magic of Christmas: Mr. and Mrs Claus.

The Hanson’s live ordinary lives 11 months out of the year, but during Christmas time their weekend’s are chalk full of holiday parties, school events, photo sessions and even traveling. Donning their red velvet suits and cheery disposition, Ron and Gerri easily fall into their rolls with a real white beard for Santa and the welcoming presence of Mrs. Claus.

“Well, when you live with a guy that looks like Santa, it’s just what you end up doing,” laughed Gerri about becoming Mrs. Claus by default.

Ron, a Vietnam veteran and retired mailman, began dressing like Saint Nick while on his mail route during the holidays. Then, while on a trip to Las Vegas, he wore a red t-shirt and began getting asked if he was Santa.

The Hansons decided to turn their one-room cabin on their family farmstead by Zahl, N.D. into the North Pole. For years they used The Shopper to have people call in and set up times to come visit Santa, while Mrs. Claus provided hot cocoa, apple cider and cookies. During one of the boom years, people had figured out where their North Pole on the North Dakota prairie was and at one point they ended up hosting over 50 people in the little cabin.

“When we got done, I told Santa, ‘I’m going union! I need a couple of elves,” Gerri said.

They stopped hosting after that, but the Claus couple began doing parties and appearances at Grenora, where Ron grew up, and other schools and posing for photographer sessions, including the iconic annual Santa photos from Erin Vournas Photography. The Hansons made connections in Minnesota with Indian Island Winery and look forward to playing the part there every year.

“(The winery) is full from the time we get there until 5 p.m.,” Gerri said. “We even have adults that come and see us every year to get their pictures taken.”

The people may come wanting to visit with Santa, but Mrs. Claus is the one making sure things run smoothly and kids feel at ease. Gerri is the conversationalist of the two, as she loves talking to the kids, answering their questions and asking the kids about themselves. Together, they feed off of eachother to make the children’s experience a happy one.

“I just say, ‘I was so lucky that I got to come with Santa today because usually I am at home baking cookies and helping feed the reindeer,’” Gerri said. And with a laugh, added, “I think it’s more help for Santa, because he’s hard of hearing.”

Through the years, the Hansons have become Mr. and Mrs. Claus countless times, even venturing to different towns in Minnesota and Iowa for visits with Ron’s military family’s grandchildren. Getting older and being busy during an already chaotic time of year can take its toll, but the duo doesn’t have plans of stopping anytime soon.

“We plan to continue,” Gerri said. “Santa is kind of ageless and timeless. It’s more about the kids than Santa.”

Wrapping up their 2023 Christmas season with one last visit to the school in Wibaux, M.T., the Claus’s will hang up the red suits, dust off their shiny boots and get some much needed rest just in time for Christmas.