In Udon Thani, an elderly man passed away. At first, his wife was saddened and worried about where to find money for the funeral. Before arranging the funeral, she opened his toolbox and found 1.8 million baht. He was known to be frugal; even when the family urged him to finish building their house, he often said he had no money to do so.
On 16 June 2026, a Facebook user named "Ole Asawin Yaksed" posted photos of the funeral for Mr. In Saendong and a video opening his toolbox, which contained a large amount of cash totaling 1.8 million baht. The caption read, “Grandfather In Saendong has passed away. In life, he lived very modestly. He wouldn’t even dare buy noodles. The treasure shown is an example for descendants—how the elderly saved and stored wealth. Though he passed away, he left this legacy as capital for his children and wife. Oh father, oh grandfather, you never wasted it. Impermanence.”
Reporters then visited the house in Nong Tum Village, Ban Chan Subdistrict, Mueang District, Udon Thani Province, which belonged to the late Mr. In Saendong, aged 78. The single-story house was still unfinished. Relatives held a Buddhist funeral ceremony at the home, with neighbors helping prepare meals to serve visitors who came to pay their respects throughout the day. In the evening, the final night of prayer was held before the cremation scheduled for 17 June at the village temple. Relatives showed reporters a metal container lying horizontally with an opening lid, used to store his tools and cash.
Mrs. Daeng Saendong, 74, the deceased’s wife, said they married in 1970 and had three children who are now married and living separately. She and her husband lived together as a couple, sharing what they had. Her husband was healthy and had never needed to see a doctor. She herself had gallbladder cancer but recovered, later developing diabetes and receiving two daily insulin injections.
Regarding the money found, she said she never suspected her husband had such savings because she never asked about finances. He often said he had no money. However, he quietly saved over many years, keeping inheritance from his parents and money from selling livestock. She never knew how much he had saved because she wasn’t the type to pry into his affairs.
Mrs. Daeng continued that 20 days before his death, her husband fainted while outside and was hospitalized for one night before returning home. Due to fatigue, he was taken back to the hospital for another 15 days. However, he wanted to return home, worried about the house. The hospital had to restrain him because he became upset if visitors arrived late, asking why they were torturing him. He came home and passed away about 3–4 days later on the evening of 13 June.
She added that when he was seriously ill and confused, she asked how much money he had saved. He said he had some money in the bank but not much. She recalled seeing him buy a 1-baht gold necklace, though he never wore it. On the day he was about to die, she asked if he wanted to wear the necklace; he declined, so she put 10,000 baht in his hand before he passed. She worried about where to get money for food and the funeral, so she called their two sons to look in his toolbox, which she had never dared to touch before. Inside, they found 1,840,000 baht in cash and the gold necklace. She told their children, “This is the father’s example.”
“There is probably no one like father in this world. He worked hard with his hands—farming, raising cattle and buffaloes—never eager for more. Seeing this large amount of money, I cried. I told my children to count it. I never imagined father saved this much, as I didn’t know. The house is still unfinished. When I asked him to finish it, he said he had no money. Father kept money for me to buy food since the children live far away. I want to tell all the children to follow father’s example. He is a role model. There is no one like him. I want the children to emulate him,” Mrs. Daeng said.
Mr. Navin Saendong, 54, the eldest son, said his father was a farmer who grew crops and raised cattle and buffaloes. He used to have many animals but later sold them due to lack of space. Father was a village health volunteer and one of the first community volunteers. He was thrifty, spent little, ate simply, and saved quietly. He never spoke about money with the children and would walk away if the topic came up. Seeing his savings made the family proud because he cared deeply for them. He taught them to work and save, not to spend recklessly, and to live within their means. He said, “I want to tell father’s spirit not to worry. We will follow his teachings—save little by little, use what we have, and don’t use what we don’t. Father’s money will be kept by mother. Everything is in her hands.”
Later reports stated that the family plans to deposit the full amount of 1,840,000 baht into a bank as an inheritance for their three children and to support their mother during illness.