Sauk Rapids resident displays 28 snowmen on lawn

by Frank Lee

news@thenewsleaders.com

Motorists driving by Vern and Betty Barthel’s front lawn in Sauk Rapids may see something that looks like a snowman convention.

The couple has 28 (and growing) artificial snowmen lit up and lined up from small to tall as part of their seasonal décor for all to enjoy through the first part of January.

“Each one is different in some shape or form,” Vern Barthel said of his yard at 4745 Fifth Ave. NE. “There are some that are the same blow mold but are painted different(ly).”

The 60-year-old driver for Country Manor set up the snowmen on his property the weekend after Thanksgiving.

“It started with our Santa on the doorstep and one snowman. Those were the original purchases … and it kind of ‘snowballed’ from there,” he quipped.

The snowmen are lit from the inside by 15-watt bulbs and “fascinate” the couple’s grandchildren, who like to run and play with the snowmen.

“It’s always good to make somebody else’s day,” he said. “I’d rather do that than make them sad – that’s for sure.”

While his grandchildren and neighbors enjoy the snowmen, the public display of the husband and wife’s Christmas spirit can be enjoyed by anyone driving by.

“We had the FedEx guy, for example, stop one time and say, ‘Man, this is awesome. Can I bring my family back here to look at them?’” he asked. “I said, ‘Sure. Don’t hesitate to drive by and if you want to take pictures, you’re more than welcome to.’”

Vern was a pipe fitter at the Verso paper mill in Sartell, which closed in 2012 after an explosion and fire that made it cost-prohibitive to reopen the century-old mill.

“That first year after the mill closed there was very little to celebrate,” he said. “But it’s nice to have them (the snowmen) back up. I’m really glad I could get to the point where I could put them back up again. ”

He is still looking to add to his collection of blow-mold snowmen and welcomes donations or will consider purchasing them from those who learn of his collection.

“Most of them come from Menard’s, or they come from Mills Fleet. Whenever I find a unique one or a different one, I pick it up,” he said of his collection.

“If anyone reads this story and anybody wants to sell or donate to my collection, I’d be more than happy to talk to them. Otherwise, I try to buy them on sale.”

He has as much fun sharing the joy of Christmas with his holiday display as he hopes his collection gives others who see it.

“My sister gave me a plaque that says, ‘People who collect snowmen are a little flakey,’” he said with a laugh.

“It’s fun for me – it really is,” he said. “Whenever I can find and put my hands on something I don’t already have in my snowman collection, I’m going to try to add it.”