Iowa Lottery

Monona Woman Expecting $300 Prize, Comes Up With Much More

Jennie Halverson Wins Top Prize Playing the "Holiday Crossword" Scratch Game

  Hear Jennie tell her story.

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DES MOINES, Iowa - A Monona woman knew she had won at least $300 on her "Holiday Crossword" instant-scratch ticket, but didn't expect to win $30,000.

Jennie Halverson, 48, said she knew she had won something when she uncovered several words on her ticket.

"I'm thinking, 'Oh my gosh,' I had eight words. And the two bonus letters was an 'O' and a 'Y' and that's what I needed. I'm thinking, 'No, no way,'" Halverson said. "I knew I had $300."

Halverson's bonus letters revealed the two she needed to win a top prize of $30,000. She immediately called her mom to tell her the news.

"She was happy," Halverson said.

After telling her mom, Halverson headed home to tell her husband, Roger.

"Roger didn't believe me," she said.

Halverson, who is an in-home daycare provider, said she plans to use some of her winnings to pay bills, as well as travel some.

"I want to go to Colorado and stuff and a couple different other places," she said.

Halverson claimed her prize Oct. 23 at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Cedar Rapids. She purchased her winning ticket at Hy-Vee, 3019 Rockingham Road in Davenport.

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