Woman dreamt of day she’d win lottery. Thanks to her husband, that day was Christmas
An Iowa woman said she always believed she’d win the lottery one day.
That day was Christmas, thanks to a lucky ticket given to her by her husband, according to a news release from Iowa Lottery officials.
“Dreams do happen and it only takes one ticket,” 61-year-old Darla Carpenter of New Hampton told lottery officials. “I just kept believing maybe one day that will be me.”
Carpenter won the top prize of $250,000 on a $20 “Winter Winnings” scratch-off ticket, lottery officials said.
The winner said neither she nor her husband slept the night before claiming the prize, according to the release.
“I still don’t think it hit, but now I’ve got my picture and the check and it’s amazing,” she said.
Carpenter works at a manufacturing facility and told lottery officials she plans to retire in the next couple of years.
“It just gives me more of a sense of security right now, knowing I have something to fall back on if something happens,” Carpenter said.
The winning ticket was purchased at Kwik Star in New Hampton.
New Hampton is about a 95-mile drive northwest from Cedar Rapids.
This story was originally published January 1, 2025 at 12:52 PM with the headline "Woman dreamt of day she’d win lottery. Thanks to her husband, that day was Christmas."
