Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Act of kindness amazes woman

Act of kindness amazes woman

Nov 29, 2008 - 04:06:18 CST

By CRYSTAL R. REID
Bismarck Tribune

Before noon on a recent Thursday morning, Ruby Hebert was already having a rough day.

On the way into the south Wal-Mart, her mind set on buying antifreeze and her purse full of cash for Christmas shopping for the upcoming holidays, the 75-year-old had a brush with a large town car in the parking lot.

"I was walking, and he was making a turn. ... He didn't make a wide enough turn and he hit my leg," Ruby said.

And it hurt, she said, but not enough to knock her down, and definitely not enough to get all upset about, she told the man, who'd jumped out of his car and showered her with concern.

By the time the brief run-in in the parking lot was over, Ruby was the one calming him down, giving him a hug and reminding him that really, we all make mistakes.

"He looked at me and said 'Can I give you a hug?' and I said 'Sure.'"And then they hugged, two strangers in the middle of a Wal-Mart parking lot.

It wasn't the first time Ruby would hand out hugs that day. Ahead of her, things would get drastically worse before the kindness of a stranger would be the cause for thanksgiving.

She waved the man off and walked into the store to be greeted by the Wal-Mart greeter, Esther M. Keller, a friend of hers; the two had met while Ruby was shopping at the old Wal-Mart near Kirkwood Mall. They're both chatty, they admit; Ruby just likes getting to know people, and Esther, being a registered nurse, is always ready to talk.

After her chat, Ruby found her antifreeze and threw it into the cart with her purse, a neatly organized, compartment-heavy, black purse with a strap that's a little aged. Her entire life was neatly tucked inside:state identification, federal ID cards, credit cards and $2,500 cash for Christmas shopping. She'd run out of checks, Ruby said, so she withdrew cash to help with the holidays.

Ruby bought her antifreeze, pushed the cart up to cart corral next to her car, carefully put the antifreeze in and drove off to her next destination. When she parked the car, she reached over and patted the seat next to her, reaching for her purse, because that's where she always keeps it, right there where her hand can easily find it.

The seat was empty.

Panicked, she realized she'd left it in the shopping cart, outside in the parking lot. She drove as fast as she could -and as safely as possible, Ruby added -back to Wal-Mart, her mind reeling with the loss of her identification, her credit cards and the cash she was going to use to buy presents for her son and his two boys.

"Twenty-five hundred dollars is a lot of money, especially for a retiree,"she said.

She was frantic and sobbing when she got to Esther's station at the front of Wal-Mart. Pale and shaky, Esther noted. Esther was worried about her friend; Ruby has had heart trouble in the past, and Esther was concerned she was heading toward a heart attack again.

Call the police, Ruby said, in tears. I've lost my purse.

But a few minutes before, a woman in her mid-30s had handed Esther a purse, simply saying she'd found it and didn't know who it belonged to. The woman left, and Esther turned it over to her manager.

The manager brought the purse to Ruby, who immediately dug in to check the contents. The $2,500 was there.

"She was just so happy, and she just hugged me and hugged me,"Esther said. "Someone carrying that much money in a purse, I just chewed her out. I said 'Ruby, I could shake you.'"

Ruby hugged Esther, then hugged the manager who handed her the purse, and hugged Esther again.

"Tell me what else there is in the world if you can't hug people out of sheer kindness,"Ruby said.

Ruby moved to Bismarck from Steele after buying a house, but she's not from Steele. She's lived all over. She's originally from Michigan, where she worked in politics and helped campaign for John F. Kennedy, and helped put her husband, who was a state legislator, in the history books. But she'd last lived in Sacramento, Calif., working in real estate, before moving to North Dakota at the urging of a friend about eight years ago.

"It grows on you,"she said of North Dakota. "The people, the weather, just a multitude of things." She added honesty and friendliness to the list of qualities.

"Can you imagine that person, being so honest that they didn't look in my purse, they didn't do anything? She just picked it up and took it in. Anybody could've looked in there,"Ruby said, adding that she'd like to hear from the woman who returned it.

Her appreciation is indescribable, she said, and a story for the holidays, a reminder of the good stories that sometimes fall victim to the tough news making headlines every day.

"It's a good Christmas present for her,"Esther said.

(Reach reporter Crystal R. Reid at 250-8261 or at crystal.reid@bismarcktribune.com.)

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Comments

Lil Sis wrote on Dec 6, 2008 1:29 PM:

" It is starting to get to a point where more and more people are going to be carrying cash. I have been to many businesses who don't take checks, don't take debit cards or credit cards. what's up with that!! Forced to carry cash. Thank goodness her purse was found by a honest person and not the guy who took the womans cash at the gas station awhile back. ~"Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus"~ "

Mom 101 wrote on Dec 4, 2008 8:50 PM:

" I really needed this story today. Someone vandalized my daughters car and did thousands of dollars of damage.I was thinking what is becoming of the community I grew up in and loved. This story gives me hope. "

PRS wrote on Dec 4, 2008 12:38 PM:

" First off I wish I could walk out of the house with $500 too. :0) Anyway, I remember many years back when I lived in Phoenix I was driving to the laundromat and some guy was following closely behind me waving, etc. I thought 'Oh, no, it's some kind of nut!' When I had to stop at a red light he came to the window of my car and told me that my purse was on top of my vehicle (yes, a bonehead move). There are good people everywhere. "

john wrote on Dec 3, 2008 3:12 PM:

" I think its a good thing that her purse was returned with the money. But i think its stupiditiy that a elderly woman is carrying a purse with 2500 cash in it. Im a 20 year old male and i seldomly leave my house with more than $500. Even though ND is a nice place to live, bad things still happen. "

lets share wrote on Dec 3, 2008 10:59 AM:

" I would like to believe that this situation is the norm in our area. A few months ago, I forgot my billfold in the cart at Walmart - with lots of cash, checkbook, id, etc. I was 15 miles away when I realized it, drove back, and it was inside - nothing missing. My family has also had a bit of bad luck this fall, and the outpouring from people in this area, some that we don't even know, has been very overwhelming. People are genuinely good, we just don't share the good stories as often as we do the bad. I am very happy for Ruby, and for all of the others who have had good experiences, shared or not. "

bigheart wrote on Dec 3, 2008 12:04 AM:

" I believe there was a story in the Sunday paper about a cowboy who bought the 3 coats for the lady in front of him at Walmart because she didn't have enough money to buy them for her kids. He paid the $80 and had someone run out and catch the lady to give her the coats. To me that is the most awesome story ever- it makes me cry that someone could have such a big heart especially when we are all feeling the economic pinch. Way to go Cowboy....you rock!! "

Stranded wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:36 AM:

" I think being helpful and nice to each other is the norm, I had myself a little accident yesturday in the Sam's Parking Lot and in the 2 hours I waited for the tow Truck, husband, police etc... I lost count of how many people stopped to see if I needed any help, a push, a phone call or just to make sure I was ok. Thanks again to all who stopped by to offer help, Merry Christmas... "

Snap wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:14 AM:

" How is this the exception and not the norm?! Can anyone prove that statement? What a bunch of negative nellies! People do the right thing everyday but not every kind act ends up in the paper. Folks need need think a little more positively and have a more optimistic opinion of their fellow men and women. Just because our news usually reports negative stuff doesn't mean that bad acts outweigh good ones in this world! "

ReeAnna wrote on Dec 2, 2008 9:53 AM:

" This story is a wonderful reflection of how things are supposed to be in this world. The sad part is that events such as these are the exception, not the norm. Blessings to the lady who returned the purse, and to Ruby, whose only desire was to bless her son and grandchildren...and give out hugs and understanding. Merry Christmas! "

Kent wrote on Dec 1, 2008 7:54 PM:

" Glory to Christ that this woman returned the purse untouched. "

care wrote on Dec 1, 2008 6:13 PM:

" I love this story. Great job to the person whom returned the purse. Ruby, I hope your next shopping day goes better. Don't go to so much work to get a hug! Just kidding. I'd hug you and the lady who found and returned your purse. Have a great holiday season! "

jt wrote on Dec 1, 2008 5:44 PM:

" Mom-of-teens: I agree that it is a terrible tragedy that this man got trampled needlessly and that it is absolutely insane that people have to act like this. However, what I was saying is that I didn't think that comment belonged in this "feel good" story, but perhaps in another section like the early risers at the stores. I didn't say anything about your comments being out of line, just not placed in the right story. "

mom-of-teens wrote on Dec 1, 2008 2:17 PM:

" jt, yes it is an extremely beautiful article! Sorry to bring up the "doom and gloom" as you called it by reminding you that someone actually was trampled to death that day! Like I said, it's gotten out of hand. Glad to see some good came out of that day, at least here! I really don't think the online editor would've posted my comment if it was out of line. "

jt wrote on Dec 1, 2008 12:31 PM:

" Mom-of-teens: Way to put gloom and doom on a beautiful article. If you wanted to comment on the Black Friday rituals of others, do it on another article. "

mom-of-teens wrote on Dec 1, 2008 10:23 AM:

" That's great and everything, but the bigger picture here is that people get in far too big a hurry, and this whole shopping the day after Thanksgiving thing has gotten WAY too out of hand! People every year get trampled because of eager shoppers wanted to save a little cash! Last year a woman got trampled and had a seizure and ended up in the hospital; THIS year, a young man actually lost his LIFE!! What's it's gonna be next year?? It has gotten absolutely ridiculous! "

MamaMia wrote on Dec 1, 2008 8:45 AM:

" I agree that the people of North Dakota, in general, when it comes to kindness and honesty are the best! However, I also agree that we don't hold all the cards in that game. When I was 19 I was going to college and working in downtown Denver. I stopped in the cafe portion of the hotel where the gift shop that I worked at was located to have a bite to eat before I started work. Wouldn't you know that I left my purse at my feet, after I had paid and finished my coffee? When I got off my shift I noticed I didn't have a purse. I was just sick, because the day before I had gotten my pay -- in cash -- and that's all I had to live on that month. I went home to cry on my roommate's shoulder all night! Well, the next morning, a lady who also worked at the hotel, in another area, phoned me to tell me that she had my purse with all the money still in it! We drove out to Lakewood to pick it up so fast I'm surprised we didn't get stopped for speeding! I offered her a reward but she would have none of it. Instead, she told me to do the same to another person anytime I could. I did take her up on that and have been able to make few people just as happy as I was that day long ago! "

Optimist wrote on Dec 1, 2008 8:18 AM:

" Snap is right about this happening elsewhere.

Click on the link: http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=230943 "

Kev wrote on Nov 30, 2008 1:12 PM:

" I think this great, kodos to the person returning the purse. I have found several wallets,cellphones,and purses while working in retail. It always felt good knowing I did the right thing by trying to contact the individual who lost their belongings,as each time I kept cash,credit cards, and any other personal property fully intact. I did this not only because of my job but because i can empathize for that person on the same level. Every time an item was found it was turned into the manager of the day and locked up until the owner was able to claim it. The store also did several pages in the store and mall in attempt to locate the property owner. The only thing that was ever checked was some form of ID to find the name of the owner and this was done by the stores manager pf the day and another employee in open view. "

Awesome wrote on Nov 29, 2008 9:53 PM:

" Whoever returned this money you should feel so good about yourself. You are an angel and knew right from wrong not to go through this ladys purse and take the money. Many others would have probably fell guilty to temptation. Thank you for having morals and values that so many do not seem to have anymore. You made this ladys day as well as mine, as I am reminded that we do not live in a society totally filled with greed and wrongdoings. God Bless you with kindness this holiday season. Tribune - if they meet how about doing a follow up article! "

Bono wrote on Nov 29, 2008 8:09 PM:

" To The Point - touche. Agreed. "

The Point wrote on Nov 29, 2008 6:54 PM:

" Bono: I agree. I too grow weary of the news constantly slamming us with the negative, with very little positive. When the news DOES run a positive story, it is like the world is standing still. I don't get it, why does negative news sell more than positive? There is so much good in the world, probably dozens of things people could point to for news. Unfortunately, the media has drilled us into the ground with crime, killing, and pessimism. I applaud the Trib for this story, and for the person who returned the purse/money. My point was that we should ponder the disappearance of morality in our society in that a story such as this is even necessary. "

Assistant news editor wrote on Nov 29, 2008 5:15 PM:

" Readers, please keep your comments directed toward the article, not other readers. "

To Snap wrote on Nov 29, 2008 5:08 PM:

" Why don't you get over yourself? Noone on here said it didn't happen anywhere else. We're just commenting on how honest the people of ND are. Why do you always have to stir the pot and look for the negative? "

Bono wrote on Nov 29, 2008 5:00 PM:

" To The Point - yes it should be common sense but unfortunately it isn't anymore. These types of stories absolutely HAVE to make the news. A person gets tired of only hearing about the doom and gloom in the economy......good job Tribune! "

The Point wrote on Nov 29, 2008 4:29 PM:

" This is a great story. It just seems to me that our society in general is seeping into the gutter when "doing the right thing" makes the headlines of the paper. Shouldn't this be common sense to turn in what is not yours? "

This is nuts wrote on Nov 29, 2008 3:12 PM:

" Oh great, get me all choked up on a Saturday afternoon. If everyone would always do what is right the world would be void of problems and full of love. Thanks for doing the right thing! "

To snap wrote on Nov 29, 2008 3:09 PM:

" Sure this kind of thing may happen other places, but we aren't living in other places, we are living HERE and what happens here affects us all. I, for one, enjoyed reading something dealing with kindness and honesty and caring rather than the usual bickering and criticism and nastiness. It's nice to read about positive things for a change, not negative, and I wish the paper was full of these types of stories a lot more. "

Snap wrote on Nov 29, 2008 2:38 PM:

" Yes, this is a kind act, but it really bothers me when people post about the greatness of folks in NORTH DAKOTA, as if these events do not occur elsewhere in the US or the world. Reality check---they do! Get over yourselves! "

LDH wrote on Nov 29, 2008 1:33 PM:

" Kudos to the kind stranger who returned the purse, with all that money in it, "

Rob wrote on Nov 29, 2008 1:26 PM:

" I grew up here, joined the Navy when I was 19 and saw the world. I moved back to ND because it was the safest place....in all my travels...this was the safest! "

Bono wrote on Nov 29, 2008 1:01 PM:

" I read the story of the animals in NY trampling the Walmart employee on Black Friday and was SO sad about our society and what we've become. Then I came across this story and it actually brought tears to my eyes. ND is GOOD PEOPLE. "

why wrote on Nov 29, 2008 11:41 AM:

" I love this story wish there would be at least 1 a day to show how caring and honest ND is. Wish there was a hero of the day arcticle so our hearts could be touched by honesty daily instead of bad things, but the good things rarely go noticed.
Gotta love happy endings! "

deb wrote on Nov 29, 2008 11:31 AM:

" What a great story. Thank you Tribune for publishing it!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

Still wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:13 AM:

" The world we live in is a reflection of our hearts." "

Peru wrote on Nov 29, 2008 7:43 AM:

" I've lost my wallet on more than one occassion, and each time it was returned to me intact. For those of you who complain about living in ND, this is one of the reasons why I choose to stay here. "

GOOD HEARTS wrote on Nov 29, 2008 6:39 AM:

" this story is great!!!! It just goes to show there are GOOD people left in this world. and alot of them in NORTH DAKOTA. On one side of this country we have a terrible accident that takes a persons life at a Walmart and here we have an act of KINDNESS at WALMART "

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