March 18, 2024

Good ‘Samaritans’ return lost purse to owner

Ruth Neil was panic stricken when she realized she had lost her purse while she was finishing up her shopping at Walmart. Neil, an employee at Progress Industries, said her thoughts immediately migrated to the worst possible scenarios.

“It all happened within 10 minutes,” Neil said. “I was shopping for supplies for our work’s Thanksgiving luncheon, and I ended up leaving my purse in the cart while in the parking lot.”

Neil said she was absent minded until she reached for her purse when she got to work.

“I thought my goodness — my purse was nowhere to be found,” Neil said. “I immediately went to cancel my credit cards.”

Along with her personal information now on the line, she also was concerned about the personal information of her clients that was also in her purse, including private information and even her work cell phone.

“I went to IT, and we were going to have them just shut it down and clean it out,” Neil said. “Then they realized we could track my phone.”

Neil said they were about to call the Newton Police Department with the location of her phone when she received a phone call from her husband.

“He told me that a couple had found my purse, and they found my home number and called it immediately,” Neil said. “My daughters received a call at home that the couple, Larry and Pat Etter, wanted to personally deliver the purse.”

Now with the purse safely returned and no harm done, Neil said she couldn’t be more grateful.

“I called them and thanked them,” Neil said. “I was extremely relieved there are good, caring and good Samaritans still out there.”

Neil said she was impressed that they didn’t consider taking it inside to Walmart, and they said they didn’t know if it would get to the rightful owner. She said she wanted to do something nice for the Etter’s to show her appreciation.

“When I asked what’s your favorite restaurant, Larry said Pat can’t leave the house, she has cancer,” Neil said. “I immediately said is there anything I can do for you?”

Neil said despite the Etter’s objection for help, she did send them something in the mail.

“They reached out to help me even despite their own struggles,” Neil said. “Their goodwill to help others was selfless.”

The Etter’s said the act was “no big deal,” and they just wanted to do the right thing but for Neil it was much more.

“It’s really like chicken noodle soup for the soul,” Neil said. “I think we need more stories like these.”

Contact Kayla Singletary at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or ksingletary@newtondailynews.com