Grandson’s Christmas gift becomes $50,000 prize for Nebraska woman

Linda Gary’s grandson undoubtedly thought it would be fun to include a scratch stamp in gifts at a family holiday celebration in western Nebraska.

But that grandmother ran off the reindeer scratch ticket was no laughing matter.

The Nebraska Lottery said in a news release Friday that Gary scrambled a $5 ticket and received the top prize of $50,000.

After scrutinizing tickets to the family celebration in Crawford, her grandson accompanied her to a local convenience store to confirm the prize.

They then join Gary on a 450-mile trip to Lincoln to redeem the ticket, which had originally been purchased from Super Sea on 33rd Street and Sheridan Boulevard in Lincoln.

Gary said he is a regular Nebraska Lottery player, but this is the first time he has won anything close to the top prize.

“Grandma ran away from a deer,” she said, looking at her grandson. “I’d say it’s a suitable ticket.”

The odds of winning $50,000 with a $5 ticket were 1-in-104,000.