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$100,000 winner Marilyn Kennedy recalls eventful day
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Marilyn Kennedy of Caledonia isn’t a big gambler. She said she buys two Powerball tickets every week…one for Wednesday night’s drawing and the other for Saturday night. And if she’s got a spare Washington laying around in her purse, she might buy a scratch ticket or two.
She usually doesn’t shell out $5 for a scratch ticket. For some reason she did on Jan. 21…good thing she did!
Kennedy was a $100,000 winner in Minnesota Lottery’s Money Tree game. Even through it had been more than two weeks since she bought the winning ticket at Kraus’ Country Store in Caledonia, her eyes grew wide as she recounted how it happened last Friday.
“It took my breath away. I was speechless and I’ve never been speechless in my life,” she said with a laugh. “I never fathomed I’d ever win that much money.”
The ticket indicated Kennedy was a winner, but until it was run through the Minnesota Lottery machine at the Country Store, Kennedy had no idea how much money she had just won.
“The first thing I did was call my kids,” she said. “They were all so excited for me.”
Kennedy and her daughter Liz Myhre took the trip to the Minnesota Lottery headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Roseville.
“The first room we went to was for $30,000 winners. They told me I had to go to ‘the bigger room.’ They wanted to take my picture and use it to promote the lottery. I turned them down. But I guess I can’t turn The Argus down,” she said with a laugh, as she waited on another customer.
After the federal and state governments had taken their share, the convenience store clerk returned home with $68,000.
“It’s a wonderful nest egg. People have been so wonderful. As soon as word got out, people called or stopped in the store to congratulate me and wish me well. The people in Caledonia are amazing. I’ve lived here all my life and have many friends. But I didn’t realize how many people would contact me about this.”
When asked if she has any special plans, Kennedy said she may take a trip to Ireland. “My married name is Kennedy… I’m not Irish. But I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland.
“I’m going to keep working. I love what I do. I open up at 5 a.m. and work until 11. Then I’ve got the rest of the day to do what I want. I guess I’m a morning person.
“I just might buy a yellow vehicle,” she added, as a bright yellow car pulled up to the pumps. “I’ve always wanted a yellow car. They can see you coming in a car that color,” she concluded with a big grin.
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