Kwik Trip patron in northern Minnesota quick to claim $1M lottery winnings

A Kwik Trip patron in northern Minnesota was quick to claim his $1 million Powerball lottery prize this week.

Emil Hakomaki told Minnesota Lottery officials on Monday that he was "touring around Gooseberry Falls" on Saturday when he swung by a Kwik Trip on Hwy. 210 in Carlton and bought a ticket for that night's drawing.

The winning Powerball numbers were 6-10-15-25-36, and the Powerball was 14. Hakomaki got all but the Powerball, just missing a jackpot of $105 million that has now grown to $121 million.

"My life has always been good, and this will add so much more to it," the 59-year-old said while claiming his prize at state lottery headquarters in Roseville.

Hakomaki, who works as a field service representative for heavy industrial process equipment, has no plans to retire early, saying, "I love what I do."

As for how he'll spend his winnings, which will shrink somewhat after taxes are deducted, Hakomaki said he will do some investing but also "set a chunk aside for fun money," possibly for a new speedboat.

This was the second time in three weeks that a Powerball ticket sold in Carlton, a city of roughly 1,000 residents, came up a $1 million winner. On May 19 a Powerball ticket bought at Minit Mart Carlton on 3rd Street matched the first five numbers drawn to win $1 million. That prize has yet to be claimed. The winning numbers were 3-6-9-17-56, and the Powerball was 25.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482