CLIVE, Iowa — Nedra Gayle Schultz of Adel celebrated her 85th birthday Wednesday by claiming a $77,777 prize in the Iowa Lottery.
“Best one I’ve ever had!” said Schultz with a birthday laugh.
On a ticket she purchased at the Casey’s store at the intersection of U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 169 in Adel, Schultz won the fifth top prize in the Iowa Lottery’s “7 7 7″ scratch game.
“I like sevens,” she said. “Seven’s always been my lucky number.”
Her luck held when she scratched her ticket in the store and felt disbelief in winning one of the game’s top prizes.
Schultz said she has a practical idea in mind for spending a part of her winnings: a new headstone.
“That sounds a little morbid,” she said, “but other than that, I really haven’t [decided]. Nothing big.”
The 7 7 7 game is a $10 scratch game that features eight top prizes of $77,777 and overall odds of 1 in 2.95. For more information about this game and the number of prizes still available, visit the Iowa Lotteray website.
