A heartwarming discovery on a family farm in southern Alberta has reunited a couple with a precious symbol of their love, lost for more than half a century. An engagement ring, missing since the early 1970s, was unexpectedly unearthed from a carrot patch by the couple's grandson, closing a chapter on a mystery that lasted over 50 years.
A Proposal and a Premature Loss
The story begins in 1969 when Robert Cockwill, then a young man, secured a cash advance from the Canadian Wheat Board. He used a portion of those funds to purchase an engagement ring for his sweetheart, Janet. The couple married in 1970, embarking on a life together that would include raising three children and welcoming eight grandchildren on their farm near Arrowwood, approximately 100 kilometres southeast of Calgary.
However, just a few years into their marriage, Janet's engagement ring vanished. The couple turned their home upside down in a frantic but fruitless search. Robert theorized it might have fallen into the kitchen sink and been lost to the septic system. With no other leads, the mystery remained unsolved. After a couple of years, Robert replaced the lost band with a new ring, and as time passed, the family largely forgot about the original.
The Garden Plot Yields a Shiny Surprise
Decades later, in the fall of 2025, the couple's grandson, Nolan, and his partner, Morgan, were gathering carrots for supper from a garden plot on the west side of the Cockwill home. As they pulled up the vegetables, Morgan noticed an unusual glint on one particular carrot. Upon washing it, they discovered it was not a flaw in the root vegetable, but a diamond engagement ring nestled against it.
The ring was immediately recognized as Janet's long-lost original. Robert was away from home when the discovery was made, but Janet was presented with the ring right away. "She knew immediately when he brought it over and he was grinning," Robert recalled with a chuckle, calling the moment "amazing."
A Christmas Miracle and a Lasting Symbol
The timing of the find, just weeks before the holidays, made it an early and unforgettable Christmas gift for the entire family. Christmas Day itself was a "full house," according to Janet, undoubtedly made merrier by the incredible pre-holiday event.
The ring, though dirty from its long subterranean stay, was in remarkable condition. The diamonds had not faded, which Robert joked was "proof that I'd actually bought a real diamond." The band was sent to Ontario for professional cleaning and resizing. Janet continues to wear the replacement ring she received years ago, while the original, priceless artifact of their enduring love story is now kept safely stored away.
Since the story of the discovery spread, the Cockwills have heard from well-wishers far and wide. For Robert, the entire experience is a simple, feel-good tale. "It's a good luck story," he said, a sentiment that resonates with anyone who believes in lost treasures and happy endings.
