Iowa Lottery

Marion Man Receives $100,000 Birthday Gift

Tim Billmeyer Wins Big Prize Playing the "Holiday Treasures" Scratch Game

  Hear Tim tell his story.

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DES MOINES, Iowa - A Marion man won a top prize of $100,000 playing the "Holiday Treasures" instant-scratch ticket his sister bought him for his birthday.

Tim Billmeyer, who turned 53 Monday, said he doesn't play the lottery often, but he's glad his sister, Diane Jones, does.

"We were kind of in shock, thinking this was one of those fake tickets or something," he said.

Billmeyer said he's keeping good on a couple of promises he made before scratching the ticket.

"Before we scratched it she goes, 'If we win over $100 we're gonna split it,'" he said.

Billmeyer's daughter was also there, and he told her if he won something big he'd share half of his half with her.

"We were very in shock. No one really reacted too energetic till about 10 minutes later," he said. "Then it hit home."

Billmeyer, who works for Brecke Mechanical in Cedar Rapids, claimed his prize Monday at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Cedar Rapids. He said he was planning to take the ticket back to Hy-Vee Gas, 3550 US Highway 151 E. in Marion to share the news with the clerk who sold Jones the ticket.

Billmeyer said he is planning to use some of the winnings to help put his children through college.

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