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  • Benjamin Ramos Sr. shows off a copy of his winning Gopher 5 lottery ticket outside of the Wells Casey's General Store where he purchased it. John Cross

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February 15, 2012

Lottery winner plans to tackle bills, help grandchildren with education

Edie Schmierbach Free Press Staff Writer

WELLS —  

Valentine’s Day wasn’t all roses for Benjamin Ramos Sr. — he spent it on the road, driving back and forth to a credit union in Aitkin. All that way to take care of a check that hadn’t yet cleared the bank Wednesday morning.

The 10-hour trip and a lack of sleep were troublesome for the 64-year-old Wells man, but he is not worried about the state making good on its lump-sum payment to him. As for his traveling partner and his ex-wife, Barbara, she’s the one who gave him the idea to try for the big state lottery prize.

Earlier this month, Barbara told him about the huge prize a Gopher 5 player could possibly win. Keeping her words in mind during one of his regular stops at Casey’s General Store in Wells, Ramos bought a single-line, quick-pick ticket for the Feb. 10 game.

The ticket matched all five winning numbers: 3-4-17-29-34.

The retired Vietnam Army vet has had very little rest since Friday night, when he realized he was the winner of a Gopher 5 $1,285,013 jackpot prize.

“I couldn’t sleep, I kept thinking, ‘What am I gonna do with the money?’”

Ramos spent part of Wednesday morning listening to voice mail messages from well-wishers, and requests from the press, who heard about his good fortune from a Minnesota State Lottery headquarters’ press release.

A native of Puerto Rico, Ramos served in the Army and was stationed in Vietnam and Germany. His war injuries included a damaged spleen.

Medical expenses are covered for the retired, disabled vet.

Dependents at home? “Well, I live with my cat and my dog.”

Ramos’ plans for spending his winnings begin with responsible choices. “I’m gonna pay off my bills, buy a house in Arizona and education for my grandchildren.

“Then I’m saving some for a rainy day.”

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