(left to right) Leslie Deptuch, Terry Nelson, Linda Benko won $250,004. (Image Credit: Sask Lotteries)

By Alyssa Rudolph

BIG WIN

Lottery tradition pays off for retired friends

Aug 5, 2026 | 1:42 PM

A weekly lottery tradition has paid off in a big way for three retired friends, including one from Battleford.

Terry Nelson of Battleford, along with Leslie Deptuch and Linda Benko of Saskatoon, won $250,004 on EXTRA after purchasing a DAILY GRAND and EXTRA ticket.

“We are a group of three that worked together and started buying tickets,” Nelson said. “We retired and just kept the tradition going… now we buy once a week!”

Nelson discovered the win while checking the group’s tickets and quickly shared the news in their group chat. Her friends couldn’t believe it either.

“I got a text notification in the group chat and I didn’t check my phone,” Deptuch said. “Linda asked me if I’d looked at the text a few moments later and I realized maybe we’d won something!”

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Benko had a similar reaction.

“I asked if it was real! I said I’d believe it when I see it!”

The winners have different plans for their share of the prize.

Nelson said she plans to put some money toward house repairs and save some as a nest egg, while Benko said she will share with her grandchildren and finish her fence. Deptuch said she is taking some time before deciding what to do next.

“It’s pretty amazing to win,” Benko said.

The winning ticket was purchased at 29th Street Market in Battleford.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

by Alyssa Rudolph

Lottery tradition pays off for retired friends

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