GLADSTONE, Mich. (WZMQ) – An anonymous Delta County woman recently won a $2 million Michigan Lottery prize. The Gladstone cashier who sold the lucky ticket says she is honored to be part of her win.
Justine Rochon has been a cashier at North Bluff Grocery for nearly four years, but December 17, 2023, was one day at work she will never forget.
“Very beginning of my shift, I had been here for just about half an hour,” she said.
That’s when one of Rochon’s regular customers approached the register.
“She came in and had a daily coupon to cash in and told me to pick out any $20 ticket, so I was like, ‘Alright, well let’s try this one, it’s brand new,'” Rochon recalled. “I didn’t even think about it, just kind of grabbed.”
The customer decided to scratch the ticket when she got home.
“Before she left I had actually told her, ‘It’s a $2 million max prize,'” said Rochon. “‘You have to go to Lansing for that one,’ and I said, ‘but well worth the trip.'”
Neither realized that was a trip the customer would soon be taking.
“She came back in 20 minutes later and was like, ‘Oh my god, I need you to scan this,'” said Rochon. “‘You won’t believe it.'”
It was a winning ticket. Rochon says it was well-deserved.
“She was just ecstatic, and I was just floored for her,” she said. “She’s a great person, so that made it even better.”
Since the big win, Rochon has seen a boost in lottery ticket sales, with some players even using her as a good luck charm.
“I have had a number of customers since then go, ‘Just pick me out any ticket!'” she laughed. “I would love to do that again for anyone. That was just amazing to have happen as it was.”
According to the Michigan Lottery, the winner chose to accept her earnings as a one-time lump sum payment of approximately $1.3 million, which she will use to pay bills and invest.
Rochon says she has nothing but well wishes for her lucky customer.
“I think that she’s going to do well with it, you know, and be smart,” she said. “I’m just glad for her. It’s amazing.”
The Michigan Lottery reports that in 2022, lottery players won more than $1.7 billion playing instant games.
