"She was probably going to hock my wife's ring," Kallenberg said. "I don't know how she can live with herself."

Although he probably wouldn't have buried his wife with the ring -- he said he'd prefer to keep it for sentimental reasons -- he's upset Olive worried about its loss in the days before her death.

"The only time I saw her without that ring on was when she had it made smaller," Holgerson, the family friend, said.

About a year ago, the Kallenbergs had a Valley jeweler resize and intertwine the wedding and engagement rings so they would stay on firmly.

Twelve years ago, when Olive's sister was hospitalized, Holgerson said he left her wedding band on her hand but removed the diamond engagement ring so it wouldn't be lost or stolen.

They didn't do the same with Olive, though, because the rings were fused and she'd never experienced a problem during numerous hospital visits.

1943 price? $342

A former Navy engineer and retired bank officer who moved to Hummels Wharf from Massachusetts 30 years ago, Kallenberg still has the receipt showing he paid $342 for the ring he gave Olive after an eight-year courtship. Today, it's valued at $5,500, he said, adding that he was told the ring would be returned to him.

They had two sons and a happy marriage, Kallenberg said, choking up as he looked through a family photo album.

"I have a lot of rich memories," he said. "I grew up during the Depression. I don't know how I could have been fortunate enough to have married her."

n E-mail comments to mmoore@dailyitem.com. Staff reporter Rick Dandes contributed to this report.