A letter from Grandpa Janson

In January, 1936, Grandpa answered a letter from his daughter Orlinda (mom) that she saved.  She was at Business College and must have asked for cash as most college kids do.  Heres a transcript of it:
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Rt. 1, Pierz, Minn. Jan. 29, 1936

Dear Orlinda,

We are in St Cloud today chasing up and down St Germain.
We have bought a new harness here for the new team of
horses that we bought yesterday. We are on a $5.00 a month in
the harness, and a Bank debt for the horses.
So we are lined up for the years' program here. Ben on the road
with two horses, and Reinhard with three horses at home.
Ben will be home every weekend, as usual. So we can catch up
with any work which might come along in a rush.
We also have the steadying effect or benefit of his Ideals
and enthusiasm and we hope to eliminate the one draw back
of whiskey--which we did since the Thanks-giving hearth break.

Ben is thinking up these good Ideas and that is something. It is
the right slant. So Reinhard has got his fine new horses that he
has been wanting for years. He thinks the world of Ben
and I am glad of it.

Reinhard's reading of True Story Idealism and the companionship

of a manly thinker and actor will bring Reinhard out on a
good road to the future so you see all three of you will be
well cultured and educated as I always wanted you to be.

Now about your college pay. I do not know that we can spare
this money. So far as I know we must come across with halve of
Lorettas bill, and you know if somebody kicks me in the pants
like that and I can not back off the danger zone the money
usually comes across. Take that as a hint and do your stuff,
perhaps it will come to you. It(s) all up to you.
D.
(Margin on the first page:)
Received your Electricity on the farm, typed sheet, and letter. Thanks.

(Margin on the second page:)
Send the typed material as soon as convenient.

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Note: "Electricity on the Farm" was a magazine grandpa subscribed to, and
"True Story" was a magazine published by Bernarr Macfadden's empire.

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The letter brings up questions, as usual.  Mostly, WHO was Ben?  This is the first I've heard of him, altho he seems to have been a definite part of their lives then. 
It's interesting to note also that Uncle Reinhard was only 15 in 1936, and in the biography Mom wrote she said
"My father insisted that I ought to go to college at St Benedicts, and he was actually going to mortgage the farm, but the farm was in a precarious condition because of the Depression as it was. In 1936, I went to Drew’s Business College in St Cloud followed by the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis for a short time".
I think grandpa started the letter when they were in St Cloud (where mom was at the time!) and finished/sent it from home. 
Another mystery!