Powerball jumped to its 2nd largest prize yet. Meet Iowa's biggest winner

Jay Stahl, Des Moines Register
·2 min read

The $1.73 billion Powerball prize is the second largest ever, but a Redfield woman won the biggest lottery jackpot in Iowa history in 2018.

Five years ago, Iowa Lottery officials introduced Lerynne West as the winner of a split $687.8 million Powerball prize. West, who received $343.9 million, split the prize with a fellow winner from New York who matched the numbers 8, 12, 13, 19 and 27, and Powerball 4.

Lerynne West, second from right, and her daughters appear in an undated photo on the shuttered Callum Foundation website.
Lerynne West, second from right, and her daughters appear in an undated photo on the shuttered Callum Foundation website.

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Later, the former Wellmark procurement analyst retired after receiving her lottery prize. A Casey's location where the ticket was sold received $10,000 from the Iowa Lottery. West received the numbers at random, instead of picking her own.

West's winnings came with a twist: she didn't have her tickets in hand. The Iowan left the tickets on the floor of her sister's pickup truck, and her sister sent her a photo of the winning ticket.

Later, she plugged the numbers on her ticket into the Iowa Lottery website and realized she won the jackpot.

Lerynne West claimed a $343.9 million Powerball jackpot, the largest prize in Iowa history, on Nov. 5, 2018.
Lerynne West claimed a $343.9 million Powerball jackpot, the largest prize in Iowa history, on Nov. 5, 2018.

More: Iowa Powerball jackpot winner left ticket on the floor of her sister's pickup

The single mom of three appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" the following month. She said she bought her winning ticket after picking up coffee and a slice of pizza from the gas station chain.

On "Ellen," she donated $500,000 to the Travis Mills Foundation, a nonprofit that provides funds for wounded veterans and their families.

What happened to Iowa Lottery winner Lerynne West?

Since her appearance on "Ellen" in 2018, West has largely disappeared from public life.

In the wake of her winnings, West started The Callum Foundation. The foundation was set to provide grants to help fight poverty and support West's passions including education, animal welfare and veterans’ affairs.

Lerynne West claimed a $343.9 million Powerball jackpot, the largest prize in Iowa history on Nov. 5, 2018.
Lerynne West claimed a $343.9 million Powerball jackpot, the largest prize in Iowa history on Nov. 5, 2018.

More: With hundreds of millions to their names, Iowa Powerball winners leap into demanding jobs

The foundation was named in honor of her late grandson Callum, who lived for one day following a premature birth at 24 weeks. A website once associated with the Callum Foundation is no longer accessible.

At the time of her prize winnings, West was a longtime resident of Dallas County.

What if I win the Powerball tonight in Iowa?

The $1.73 billion jackpot holds a cash value of $756.6 million, according to USA Today.

If you win the big Powerball prize, Iowa law requires winners to come forward publicly. Iowa Lottery winners are not permitted to remain anonymous. Powerball winners can remain anonymous in 18 states, according to USA Today.

Lerynne West of Redfield bought a Powerball jackpot ticket in October 2018.
Lerynne West of Redfield bought a Powerball jackpot ticket in October 2018.

Drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. The next Powerball drawing is tonight at 9:59 p.m. central time in Iowa.

For more information on Iowa Lottery winners, visit The Des Moines Register's biggest lottery winner database.

Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on Instagram or reach out at jstahl@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Meet Iowa’s biggest Powerball jackpot winner Lerynne West