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Just weeks after a Michigan resident lost his wedding ring, six strangers saved the day by helping him retrieve the missing piece. In early November 2023, Joe Novetske was doing yard work when he noticed that his band was no longer safely secured on his left ring finger. “I came up toward the house, and I realized my ring wasn’t on my finger, and I didn’t know when I lost it or where I lost it,” he told local Lansing, Michigan station WLNS-TV.
Joe alerted his wife of 42 years, Mary Ann Novetske, about the dilemma, and the two of them decided to post a PSA on social media, asking any locals—specifically with a metal detector—for assistance. “It really means a lot to us if we can find it,” Mary Ann wrote on Facebook. “Please be in prayer that we find this ring.” According to the couple, dozens of people offered to help, but a few days later, six strangers really came to the rescue. The group showed up at the couple’s house and spent hours searching the property with a metal detector. “It was like, ‘Wow, they are going to come and help us; we don’t know who they are,’” Mary Ann recalled.
After hours of scouring the yard, someone spotted the missing gem in a pile of leaves on their property. “I came in the house, and I hear this lady screaming, ‘We found the ring!’” Marry Ann recounted. “And it was so cool. She was bawling harder than I was. I was in shock.” Although the story has a happy ending, even if the group’s search attempts weren’t successful, one of the women told the duo she was going to leave the metal detector with them, so they could continue the hunt on their own. “It just rekindled hope, you know—knowing that people will do good things,” Mary Ann said.
Since Mary Ann’s Facebook followers were along for the ride, she followed up her original social media post with a second part. “Joe lost his wedding ring yesterday of 42 years doing leaves,” she posted. “The ring was found in a trillion leaves back near the fence row. Thank you Joel, Paula, Kathy, Jim & Lisa for being God’s servants!”
Now that Joe is reunited with his wedding band, the couple told the outlet that they’re planning on making more memories with the piece of jewelry, such as traveling the country and spending time with their family. And they won’t have any worries about losing the ring again because they resized it, according to the news station. The two of them will also continue strengthening their 42-year marriage. "He doesn't necessarily look to give me advice—he just looks to give me encouragement and comfort," Mary Anne described of their relationship. "And he's my best friend I have, so that is something I cherish."
