West Allis couple talks about hitting it big with Powerball Lottery

WEST ALLIS -- It's no longer 'if I had a million dollars' for Mary and Dennis Retterath, it's 'what are we going to do with a million dollars!' The couple from West Allis had a $1 million winning ticket in last week's Powerball drawing.

As it turned out, the couple didn't even think they won right away since they didn't have the right Powerball number!

"When I realized I didn't have number 6 I put my tickets down and went and got ready for work and said 'oh I guess we didn't win,'" Mary said at a press conference held Monday morning, December 3rd.

While Mary continued getting ready for work, watching FOX6 WakeUp news, she heard something that caught her attention.

"'Channel six news said there was a million-dollar winner at the West Allis Speedway. I was like 'oh my gosh I think that`s where Dennis went,'" Mary said.

It was then Mary decided to double check the rest of the numbers on her ticket.

"I was waving the ticket and woke Dennis up screaming 'we won, we won!'" Mary said.

Within minutes of finding out she won $1 million, Mary still headed to work, which shocked her boss.

"I said 'it was too late to call in. It was 10 minutes to 7:00. It was too late to call in.' She said 'that shows what kind of person you are,'" Mary said.

That was Mary's last day at West Allis Children's Center, as she decided to start her retirement early.

Mary and Dennis are talking about taking a trip to England in the Spring, but they are especially relieved that they no longer have to live paycheck to paycheck.

"To be able to help my children, to be able to pay all our bills off, and to enjoy our retirement is going to be a blessing," Mary said.

The couple says they are just looking forward to the future, spending their days together and with their family.

After taxes, Mary and Dennis Retterath will receive $672,500 dollars.

On Wednesday alone, between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m., nearly $300 worth of Powerball tickets were sold each second in Wisconsin -- which is more than $17,000 per minute!

The couple claimed a $1 million Powerball prize on Friday, November 30th from Wednesday’s record $587.5 million drawing. They brought their ticket to the Lottery’s Madison headquarters on Friday, where it was validated as the million-dollar winner.