After more than three decades, a missing Falls High School class ring has been returned to its owner.
The ring design is the oldest class ring tradition in the United States and is easy for a FHS alumni to spot. When an FHS ring was turned into the lost and found at Rainy River Community College last week, Berta Hagen, class of 1983, easily tracked down who it belonged to.
“The women’s locker room was being renovated and two gentlemen turned in a 1982 ring,” the RRCC employee told The Journal. “I looked at the initials engraved on the back and realized it belonged to Jill Ronning who is now Jill Bixby.”
At first, Hagen thought the ring may have been lost recently, but after finding out no events had happened in the RRCC gym around the time the ring was found, she said she realized it might have been several years since the ring was on its owner’s finger.
“Jill hasn’t lived in town for years,” Hagen said, noting the two women were neighbors growing up. “That’s when I realized (the ring) has probably been there awhile.”
Hagen reached out to a close friend of Bixby’s who informed Hagen she recalled Bixby losing the ring while she was still in high school.
“I started getting really excited,” Hagen said. “Jill’s sister-in-law works at Super One, so I got a hold of her and Jill called me the next day.”
Although Bixby couldn’t be reached in time for this story, Hagen said Bixby was thrilled to hear the news her ring was recovered.
“I think I was just as excited as her,” Hagen said with a laugh. “Our class ring is amazing.”
Hagen mailed Bixby the ring and it was back in its owner’s possession in time for Christmas.
