Montana lottery winner thought he won $30

HELENA — Joseph Thompson, of Salt Lake City thought he knew how the story would end when he dropped a Montana Lottery Powerball ticket in the mail last month.

The accounts payable manager had been in Helena in late June performing in a charity dinner theater production.

“I bought some tickets on my way out of town,” he said, including a Powerball ticket good for several draws.

Thompson thought he won, maybe, $30. He signed the back of his ticket and sent it back to the Montana Lottery headquarters. He figured he’d just get a check in a week or so.

Instead, he got a phone call from the Montana Lottery.

That ticket – purchased at the Albertson’s on Fee Street in Helena – had won a quarter of a million dollars. Thompson, believing the win was for much less, hadn’t filled out the proper claim information needed for the lottery to process a ticket that won so much money.

“I was shocked when they told me,” Thompson said. “I couldn’t even finish my sandwich.”

He drove back to Helena this month to claim the money.

Thompson has plans for the money: Go back to school, pay off debt, invest a bunch — and spend a little, too.

“I lose, that’s what I do, so this is unbelievable” he said. “I am just going to take advantage of the blessing that it is.”