Cedar Rapids woman wins $300,000 in lottery scratch game

Winner and her husband plan to use winnings to buy new vehicles, pay bills

Aug. 2, 2022 5:38 pm

Michele Lutenske, 62, of Cedar Rapids, claimed a $300,000 prize in the Iowa Lottery’s “Colossal Crossword” scratch game on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022. (photo courtesy of the Iowa Lottery)

A Cedar Rapids woman won a $300,000 lottery prize this week on a $30 scratch game.

Michele Lutenske claimed the 13th of 19 top prizes in the Iowa Lottery’s “Colossal Crossword” scratch game. Lutenske claimed her prize at lottery headquarters in Clive.

The 62-year-old bought the winning ticket Monday at Hy-Vee Gas at 3935 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE in Cedar Rapids, and scratched the ticket in her friend’s truck, according to a news release from the Iowa Lottery.

After she finished scratching, Lutenske counted up her completed words and realized she’d reached the game’s top prize level. She verified her win by scanning it with the Iowa Lottery mobile app.

“It was craziness. Shaking. Scared. Crying. All kinds of emotions,” Lutenske told Iowa Lottery officials as she claimed her prize. “It was overwhelming and it’s a moment I’ll never forget, I’ll tell you that. I’ll never forget scratching that ticket and seeing that $300,000, those numbers, all those zeros.”

Lutenske said she and her husband plan to use part of the winnings to buy a couple of vehicles and pay some bills.

The scratch game features 19 top prizes of $300,000 and 56 prizes of $10,000, according to the lottery.

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