For immediate release:
Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Contact: Mike Mueller, 773-5770
Sioux
Falls couple claims $9.13 million Hot Lotto jackpot
(Pierre) – Shirley and Luverne Vehle of
Sioux Falls have claimed the third largest lotto jackpot ever awarded by
the South Dakota Lottery. The couple won the June 15th Hot
Lotto jackpot worth $9,130,000 and claimed their prize today in Sioux
Falls.
The Vehles chose to receive their jackpot in a
single cash payment. The cash value of the prize is $5,732,579. After
federal tax withholding, they received a check today for $4,299,434.
Shirley discovered she held the winning ticket when
she checked the numbers in the newspaper. “I saw the numbers and couldn’t
believe it,” she said. “I called the grocery store to ask for the winning
numbers. Then I called my husband to come check the numbers.”
Luverne said he told her, “You’re a millionaire!”
Still, Shirley called the Lottery to check the numbers again. “Then I
went into shock,” she said.
While they have just come forward publicly, Shirley
said they have shared their secret with some friends and family. “I
think they’ve lost some sleep too,” she said.
The Vehles said they are taking their time to
decide how to invest their winnings. “We want to take care of our family,
and we’re taking it one day at a time,” Luverne said.
Shirley purchased the winning “quick pick” ticket
at HyVee #2 on South Louise Avenue in Sioux Falls. The store will receive
a bonus of $10,000 for selling the wining ticket.
This is the first time the top prize for the Hot
Lotto game has been won in South Dakota. The game is currently played in
eight lotteries: South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota,
New Hampshire, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
The odds of winning the jackpot are 1:10,939,383.
The Hot Lotto jackpot for tonight’s drawing is $1,250,000.
