56 years later, wallet returned to its owner

BLACKFOOT, Idaho – A woman who lost her wallet 56 years ago had it returned to her after it was found behind a movie theater concession stand during cleaning.

The wallet belongs to Vestle Wixom, but Larry Christian had a hard time locating its owner, who was then known as Vestle Michelson.

The wallet contained a Blackfoot High School student activity card from the 1949-50 school year and some photos, but no cash. The lack of moisture and light kept the wallet in near-perfect condition.

“You could still see the initials BHS on the front and a little note saying ‘empty’ the owner had placed on the coin purse,” Christian told The Morning News newspaper in Blackfoot.

Christian said he found the wallet about two months ago when a work crew was cleaning out the area behind a concession stand to install new wallboard at the Nuart Theater. A work crew member tried to throw the wallet away, but Christian opened it anyway.

The wallet probably fell through a crack into a storage room behind concession stand, Christian said.

He turned the wallet in to the Sheriff’s Department, where he works as a deputy, but said he was determined to find its owner. He consulted friends, and with some help, found out that Vestle Michelson had married Darwin Wixom.

Christian presented the wallet at last week’s meeting of the Bingham County Historical Society, where Wixom is president. Christian told the group he had a historic item to present and handed the wallet to Wixom.

Wixom was amazed to have the wallet returned to her after it had been missing for so long.

“After all these years, I’d even forgotten about losing it,” Wixom said.