Eden Prairie’s Santa remembered for spreading joy

Arlyn Grussing brought Christmas magic to Eden Prairie for more than a decade – not just by playing Santa, but by becoming him.

Starting in 2013, from the cozy parlor of the historic Cummins-Phipps-Grill House, Grussing welcomed thousands of children and families into a holiday tradition that felt more like a storybook than a photo op.

Grussing, a longtime Bloomington resident who had donned the red suit for years, died March 8 at age 80 from stage 4 lung cancer. He had planned for the 2024 holiday season to be his final one, working only on Sundays, but as his health declined, he missed his last scheduled shift.

“That was really hard on him,” said Bruce Bengry, longtime photographer for Santa’s North Pole Experience and a part-owner of the business with his wife, Carol. “He wanted nothing more than to be there, but he just couldn’t do it.”

At the time, his family thought he had pneumonia. But his condition worsened, leading to multiple hospital visits before doctors discovered it was cancer.

“He was just a fun, jovial guy who truly loved people,” said his daughter, Ginna Grussing, reflecting on her father’s joyful spirit – especially during his years as Santa. “He loved spreading joy. He just loved people – that’s who he was. And we were all so proud to be his kids. The fact that this is what he did with his life, and that we got to be part of it, meant so much to us.”

Bengry met Grussing years ago at Eden Prairie Center mall, where Bengry was taking photos and Grussing was working as Santa. Over time, their professional relationship grew, and Bengry became a key part of Santa’s North Pole Experience.

“Honestly, I think he was destined to do this,” Bengry said. “You saw how perfect he looked in that suit – not just the beard and the hair, but the way he carried himself, the way he interacted with the kids. Sure, there are plenty of bearded guys out there who play Santa – some might even look better – but Arlyn had something special. It wasn’t just how he looked, it was who he was.”

A Santa like no other

Grussing’s path to becoming Santa was unexpected. A longtime city planner, he worked in Bloomington, Rice County, Lakeville, and even Colorado, according to his daughter. But when he began playing Santa at Eden Prairie Center, he quickly realized the mall experience didn’t align with what he wanted.

“It was just about moving kids through – take the picture, collect the money, move on,” Bengry recalled. “You’d see these happy little kids running around, and by the time they finally got to Santa, they were exhausted, cranky, or in tears. That wasn’t the experience he wanted for them.”

Looking for something more personal, Grussing moved Santa’s North Pole Experience to the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House, the historic property owned by the City of Eden Prairie and leased by the Eden Prairie Historical Society.

“The house really created the ambiance,” Grussing said in a 2022 interview. “Families could take their time. Kids could warm up to Santa instead of being rushed.”

The setting transformed the Santa visit into something special. Families reserved appointments to meet Santa in the cozy 19th-century farmhouse. Upstairs, children could color or watch Christmas movies while they waited.

“It was an entirely different experience,” said Kathie Case, president of the Eden Prairie Historical Society. “Santa wasn’t just a guy in a chair at the mall – he was part of something magical.”

The move to the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House was set in motion by Valerie Ross, a former Eden Prairie resident and past member of the Eden Prairie Historical Society who was managing the rental program at the time. She had been looking for ways to bring more community engagement to the historic home when she learned about Grussing.

“We arranged to meet at the house, and when we did, he was thoroughly impressed,” Ross said.

His vision aligned perfectly with what Ross and the Historical Society hoped to bring to the house – something community-centered and magical.

“But looking back at that first meeting, it was clear that this was going to be a win-win-win situation,” Ross said. “It was a win for the Historical Society and the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House, a win for the community that got to experience it, and a win for Arlyn, who now had a much better place to play Santa than the mall.”

A legacy of joy

Grussing’s influence reached far beyond Santa’s North Pole Experience. For many families, he wasn’t just a Santa – he was their Santa. Some had visited him for over a decade, bringing their children year after year. Even after they had outgrown sitting on Santa’s lap, they returned to visit.

“We had people come back this past year whose kids had already graduated from college,” Bengry said. “They didn’t come because they still believed in Santa. They came because of what it all meant – the tradition, the connection, the memories.”

For many, Grussing became a part of their family stories. One mother, who had been bringing her children for years, was pregnant during one visit. She posed for a picture with Santa, intending to use it for her holiday card. A few days later, she returned – with her newborn in her arms.

“She had just left the hospital,” Bengry recalled. “Before even going home, she stopped by to take another photo – with the baby on the outside this time.”

Bengry and his wife Carol said Grussing’s ability to connect with children of all kinds was unparalleled. Whether they were nervous, scared, or shy, he had a special way of making them feel comfortable. One child, initially frightened to sit on his lap, found solace in simply talking to him from a distance. Eventually, she climbed onto Santa’s lap, smiling.

“He had an incredible memory,” Bengry said. “He remembered faces, stories, little details. That’s what kept people coming back.”

A Santa until the end

Even in his final months, Grussing remained Santa.

After losing his wife Bonnie in August 2024 and his son Brian in February 2024, Grussing was already carrying a heavy burden when he fell ill.

Still, even in the hospital, he kept his humor. His daughter Ginna recalled how he had planned to shave his beard after Christmas, as he always did, but never got the chance.

“My brother brought a razor to the hospital and did it for him,” she said. “They had fun with it — first they made him look Amish, then just a mustache, then finally shaved it all off.”

His birthday was Dec. 26, and that post-Christmas shave was usually the only haircut he got all year.

At home, in hospice care, he remained in good spirits. “He was just the same happy-go-lucky, tough farm boy,” said Carol Bengry. “We had a great conversation. For us, it was emotional. Tears were shed.”

He passed away on March 8, just before 2 p.m.

“It was peaceful, beautiful – even a gift, the way it happened,” Ginna said.

Carrying on the tradition

John Hall, who had helped with Santa duties in recent years, took on a larger role last season. He has since purchased Grussing’s share of Santa’s North Pole Experience and plans to continue what Grussing started.

“Arlyn wanted to make sure the Santa tradition at the house carried on, and we’re definitely committed to that,” Case said. “It’s hard to find that kind of Christmas magic anymore – like what we had as kids or when we were raising our little ones.”

Before stepping into the role, Hall met with Grussing several times to learn his philosophy. Grussing believed Santa was not a figure of judgment, but one of kindness and encouragement.

“He taught me that being Santa is about caring for the children,” Hall said. “Not judging them, not punishing them for not being ‘good,’ but encouraging them to be kind – to get along with their parents, siblings, and friends.”

Grussing, Hall added, was also a man of quiet faith.

“He had his ways,” Hall said. “He’d ask families what their plans were for Christmas Eve. If they said church, he’d say, ‘Then you know what Christmas is really about.’”

“Yes, your photo will be with a different Santa,” said Bruce Bengry, who plans to continue photographing Santa’s North Pole Experience and helping carry on the tradition Arlyn built. “But the experience? That hasn’t changed. Everything else – the tradition, the atmosphere, the magic – it’s all still there.”

A life well lived

Ginna reflected on the overwhelming outpouring of support the family received during Arlyn’s final months.

Families sent photos showing their children growing up – always with Arlyn, always with Santa.

“It’s been overwhelming, but beautiful too,” she said. “He touched so many people — we’ve seen it in the photos, messages, and stories people have shared. It was a life well lived. He touched a lot of humans.”

A Celebration of Life for Arlyn Grussing will be held at Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, 2200 West Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, on Friday, April 11, at 11 a.m., with visitation beginning at 10 a.m.

As Santa’s North Pole Experience enters a new chapter, Grussing’s words from an interview last November at the house remain a powerful reminder of what it was all about.

“People don’t realize how much belief, family, joy, love, and giving matter – it’s part of our culture,” he said. “We Santas are here to remind people of that. It’s about putting family first and focusing on love rather than hate.”

Hall knows what it takes to be Santa — which is why he called Grussing the perfect one.

“He wasn’t pretending to have the heart of Christmas,” Hall said. “He really did have the heart of Christmas.”