Mountain Lake man discovers million-dollar ticket while doing laundry

(Roseville, MN) – A Mountain Lake man is a million-dollar Powerball winner after what he calls a “fluke” purchase and a miracle win.

College professor John Engstrom and his wife were doing last-minute Christmas shopping in Mankato when he stopped at the Madison Ave Kwik Trip.  Engstrom was standing in line waiting to buy some donuts when he noticed the Powerball jackpot sign and thought “What the heck – I should buy a ticket.”

Engstrom said he put the ticket in his coat pocket and didn’t think twice about it.

It wasn’t until Christmas Eve that Engstrom discovered the winning ticket in his pocket – all because he was unexpectedly doing laundry because of his 11-month-old grandson’s messy diaper.

“I told my son,’Your baby had a million-dollar mess!’ if it wasn’t for his messy diaper, I wouldn’t have checked the ticket,” said Engstrom.  “It was a miracle I didn’t lose the ticket.”

Engstrom’s single-line ticket matched the first five winning numbers for the $1 million prize.

Kwik Trip on Madison also earned $5,000 for selling the winning ticket.

Engstrom is the fifth Minnesotan to claim $1 million prize so far this year.