Eureka woman wins $17,500 lottery jackpot

HELENA - Debra Parrish is no stranger to the Montana Lottery. The Eureka woman has been playing for 30 years.

When Parrish bought her Big Sky Bonus tickets last week, she had a good feeling. This one was a winner, she thought.

And she was right.

Parrish claimed her $17,589 Big Sky Bonus jackpot on Feb. 2.

Parrish said she loves all the Montana Lottery’s games, but especially likes the Montana-only Big Sky Bonus game. Parrish’s cousin happened to win Big Sky Bonus just eight months ago.

“I was so happy when she won,” Parrish said. “And now it was my turn.”

After a day of shopping with her two daughters, Parrish said plans to put the rest of her win in her savings.

Her winning ticket was purchased at the Ksanka Store on U.S. 93 North in Eureka.

The Montana Lottery was created by referendum in 1986.

Since then, it has paid over $559 million in prizes and returned approximately $249 million to the State of Montana.