Woman Learns She Won $135K Prize After Buying a Lottery Ticket and Forgetting About It for Months

The Washington woman will now be able to pay off her debt with the winnings, according to lottery officials

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A lottery ticket machine.

• A woman in Washington learned she won $135,000 after she forgot to check the lottery ticket she bought months ago, Washington’s Lottery said last week

• She was prompted to check the ticket after a reminder from her husband

• "She couldn’t believe that her forgotten ticket was a winner," lottery officials said

A Washington woman who forgot to check a lottery ticket, but finally checked it after a reminder from her husband has won $135,000, according to lottery officials.

The Lynnwood mom and master electrician had stopped at her local Fred Meyer to grab some groceries for dinner, but before she headed out, she decided to purchase a Hit 5 game ticket from the lottery vending machine, Washington’s Lottery said in a Feb. 22 news release.

Related: Iowa Lottery Mistakenly Posts Wrong Numbers — But 'Winners' Who Already Cashed in Can Keep Money!

In order to compete, players pick five numbers between 1 and 42, with each play being $1, the office explained. "Alternatively, players may use Quick Pick by letting the computer select their numbers. With four winning ball combinations, the more numbers that match those drawn, the more a player will win."

Months after the purchase, it wasn't until her husband flagged her to check the ticket that the woman, identified only as M.B., went back to scan it at the vending machine, lottery officials said.

Related: Md. Man Wins $50K on Lottery 3 Times in 11 Months with the Same Exact Number: 'You Never Know'

"The words 'See Lottery Regional Office' glowed back at her," the lottery office said. "She couldn’t believe that her forgotten ticket was a winner, but what shocked her even more was that her printed confirmation receipt showed she had won $135,000."

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Related: Kentucky Couple Wins $50K Lottery Prize — After Spending Over 3 Months Looking for Lost Ticket!

The woman drove home to tell her husband and son, and their "eyes grew wide when they saw what the ticket was worth," according to officials.

Per the release, M.B. will now be able to pay off her debt with the winnings.

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