Kalispell waitress wins $15K in Montana Lottery

HELENA – Brittney Brutscher turned $2 into $15,000 with one decision to purchase a Montana Lottery ticket.

Brutscher, an 18-year-old waitress in Kalispell, was filling up her gas tank and had an extra $2.

Brutscher said she doesn’t play the Montana Lottery often, but she decided to ask the clerk for a $2 Scratch ticket — no preference which one. The clerk said she would pick a “lucky one.”

She sure did.

“I was in shock and disbelief when I found out,” Brutscher said. “I plan to give that clerk a tip for picking out a lucky ticket.”

The $15,000 winning Fire and Dice Scratch ticket was bought at the White Oak Super Stop on U.S. 93 in Kalispell.

Brutscher didn’t have any specific plans for her winnings, but said she plans to save most it.

The Montana Lottery was created by referendum in 1986. Since then, it has paid over $559 million in prizes and returned approximately $249 million to the State of Montana.