Snyder is big winner in Millionaire Raffle

by Marlo Benning
marlo@inhnews.com

Mike Snyder had in his hands last week something that many of us have dreamed about—a winning ticket worth 1 million dollars.
Snyder had forgotten he’d bought tickets until he was watching TV. He saw the number on the screen and thought to himself, “That sure looks like mine”. He woke up his wife, Lea, to ask her what he was doing wrong. But there wasn’t anything wrong; rather everything was just right. He had a winning ticket and it was a whopper of a one at that! Two $1 million tickets were chosen in the Minnesota State Lottery’s annual Millionaire Raffle game and in his hands he held one of them.
The drawing was held January 1, 2012. The Snyders of Wadena kept their winning ticket a secret until they claimed it at the lottery headquarters in Roseville on Friday, January 6.
Mike said he didn’t really believe it until it was put in his bank account.
Until it’s validated, it’s not real, were the couple’s sentiments.
This was the fourth year Mike had played the Millionaire Raffle game. Usually he purchases one ticket, but this year he decided to purchase two. That was a very good decision because the second ticket is the one that ended up being worth the $1 million.
“I always buy a ticket because I figure my chance is as good as anybody else’s,” said Snyder. “I never dreamed of winning $1 million. I thought if I won one of those smaller prizes, that would be great.”
Snyder only plays the Millionaire Raffle game, he said at a news conference held at the Holiday Store in Wadena where he purchased his tickets. Lea said she rarely buys lottery tickets except for an occasional scratch off.
“Nobody believed us,” Lea said when they first told others about their lucky ticket.
A crowd of others who knew the couple were also present at the news conference. Friend and fellow church member Bev Savaloja said, “Congratulations and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer couple.”
The couple was asked what they are going to do with their winnings.
“We’re not going to blow it,” the couple agreed, but did let on that they may buy one “toy” with part of their winnings. Mike didn’t want to share yet what that purchase might be.
While Mike is already retired from his appliance repair business, Lea works for Tri-County Hospital at the Bertha Medical Clinic.
She said, “I love my job”, and that she plans to continue working for a few more years.
The two plan to use the money, for the most part, as a nice cushion for their retirement years.
The Holiday Station also shared in the Snyder’s joy and profited as well with a nice check for $5000 for selling that winning ticket.
As of January 10, the second winning raffle ticket for the other $1 million prize had not been claimed.

Photos:

Top: The Minnesota Lottery’s acting director, Jenny Canfield, shook hands with Mike Snyder and congratulated the couple on their good fortune. Canfield described the two as “very modest, down to earth and kind” at a news conference held in Wadena at the Holiday Store where Mike purchased the winning $1 million ticket.

Bottom: Holiday Manager Steve Schmitz accepted congratulations and a check/poster signifying the store’s $5000 bonus for selling Snyder the winning ticket from the store’s lottery sales representative, Roxann Ramberg-Cossette.