Iowa Lottery officials have confirmed that Lerynne West of Dexter, Iowa, is one of two winners of a nearly $700 million Powerball prize. The 51-year-old grandmother of six will share the $687.8 million jackpot drawn on October 27th with a winner from New York City. West had a choice of how to receive her winnings. She could opt for an annuity worth $343.9 million, paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, with federal withholding of 24 percent and state withholding of 5 percent applied to each payment. She also had the option of a lump sum payment of $198.1 million, before taxes, which amounts to $140.6 million after taxes. She chose the lump sum. But West, who says she played the lottery about twice a week, almost missed her big payday entirely. When she heard that winning tickets had been sold in New York and Iowa, she rushed to check her numbers — and couldn't find her lottery ticket.

Lerynne West Courtesy of the Iowa Lottery