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The first-place winner of the Light ’Em Up contest sponsored by the Hills Lions Club in Beaver Creek is Sterling Shaffer who lives at 402 East 1st Ave.
Shaffer, 76, describes himself as one of the elite seniors in the town of Beaver Creek. He has a passion for Christmas and decorates both the outside and inside of his house.
He and his wife, Lois, moved from Sioux Falls to Beaver Creek in 1975 after he accepted a position in the Hills Municipal Liquor Store.
Shaffer shared memories of his childhood in Milbank, South Dakota.
“I grew up in the Depression years, but we always had a big Christmas tree with electric lights,” he said. “As I became older, my mom didn’t want to decorate the tree, so I did it.”
The Shaffers have two children, Julie and her husband, Wade Roos, who live in Prior Lake, and Richard and his wife, Karen, who live in Duluth. There are six grandchildren.
“At first this year I thought I would not put up decorations since we will be out of town visiting our children, but after some thought I decided to decorate,” Shaffer said.
“I usually start a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving and first put up the Christmas tree in the house.”
He said he has seven to choose from in his garage.
“Every year I put up a different one with a different theme of decorations,” he said.
“Lois and I feel the nativity scene is the most important part of Christmas and this is the focus of my décor. My goal is to have the outside of the house decorated by black Friday.”
He said he’s downsized decorating a bit through the years.
“Outside is a moose I purchased at auction across the street. My wife said, ‘I didn’t know a moose was part of the Christmas décor,’ but it blends well with the other decorations. Every window in the house has a light.”
Shaffer said, “I plan on decorating for Christmas until I can’t do it anymore.”
First place winners received $25 dollars and second-place received $10 dollars.
Judges for the event were Laura Preheim, administrator of the Tuff Memorial Home, Shateen Lichter, activity director of the Tuff Memorial Home and Teresa Johnson from Sioux Falls, S.D.