Here’s a fun human glitch for you: sometimes the brain meets life-changing news and replies with, “Cool. Let’s clean the carpet.”
That’s basically what happened to Ron Rothe, 73, from Denison, Iowa. He’d been driving around for a week with a Powerball ticket in his glove compartment—because, like most of us, he assumed big wins only happen to someone else, somewhere else. Rumors floated around town that a $1 million ticket had been sold locally. Cute story. Probably not him.
Then he stopped by the Kimmes Denison Country Store to buy tickets for the next few drawings and figured he might as well scan last week’s. The cashier disappeared, came back with the manager, and said the line every lottery player rehearses: “Congratulations.” Ron blinked. “For what?” A million bucks, that’s what.
Winning Numbers
His Quick Pick matched all five white balls and missed the Powerball:
- White balls: 28, 37, 42, 50, 53
- Powerball: 19 (not matched)
He walked straight to his wife Pat’s salon to deliver the news in person. She skimmed the slip and guessed a thousand. He corrected her. She re-read. A million.
Now, this is where the story could turn into Hollywood: champagne, confetti, the works. But real life is better. Ron went home, felt the nerves, and vacuumed. Because when your reality jumps a few tax brackets in ten minutes, your body craves something simple, repetitive, and in your control. Push. Pull. Lines on the carpet. Breathe.
They claimed the prize on in Clive. The money’s earmarked for practical things: home improvements, estate planning, giving back, and college funds for their two grandkids. The retailer gets a $1,000 bonus. Everyone wins something.
Pat says it still hasn’t fully sunk in. Of course it hasn’t. Big moments rarely arrive with a neat emotional bow. They show up like a pop quiz, and you pass by doing the next right thing in front of you—even if that thing is vacuuming the living room.
The takeaway: When life shocks you—in the best or worst ways—don’t chase the perfect reaction. Do something grounded. Call someone you love. Make a list. Fold laundry. Run the vacuum. Then, when your pulse returns to normal, decide what this new chapter is going to mean. Ron and Pat chose family, planning, and generosity. Not a bad blueprint for any kind of win.