Enlarge South Dakota Lottery Neal Wanless promised not to "squander" his $232.1 million Powerball winnings after he thanked "the Lord for this opportunity." PIERRE, S.D.  Hours after Neal Wanless claimed a $232 million Powerball prize and vowed to use his new fortune to help others, those who know him said they couldn't think of anyone better to win the ninth-largest jackpot in the history of the game. Wanless, a 23-year-old rancher who lives outside Mission, S.D., said his family has been helped by the community "and I intend to repay that help many times over." Wanless decided to take a one-time cash prize of $118 million, and will get about $88.5 million after taxes. At the Pheasant Bar in Winner, S.D. — the town where the winning ticket was sold — Dave Storms of Clearfield echoed a sentiment heard around Winner and Mission as word spread in recent days that the Wanless family may have won millions. "It couldn't have happened to better people," Storms said. Rick Odenbach added, "I'm glad it was them; they need the money." Wanless is "a typical South Dakotan, a good hard-working kid," said Norm Lingle, executive director of the South Dakota Lottery. Lingle said he thinks thinks Wanless will stay grounded despite his millions and all the publicity. Wearing a cowboy hat, jeans and a western shirt, Wanless was introduced to the rest of the world at a ceremony Friday in Pierre. "Winning the Powerball is something I've always dreamt about but didn't think would happen," Wanless said. "I want to thank the Lord for giving me this opportunity and blessing me with this great fortune." It took just 23 seconds for Wanless to become $232 million richer. That's how much time it took from the instant that "05" was readable on the first white ball drawn during the May 27 Powerball drawing, to when the "07" was clearly viewable on the red Powerball. Winners usually contact the lottery via telephone, but Lingle said Wanless came to the office in Pierre. The day after the big drawing, Lingle's receptionist came to his office and told him that the possible winner was up front. Lingle said he thinks Wanless "was still stunned and full of disbelief" when he walked into the lottery office. "He was full of questions," Lingle said. The ticket was sold at an Ampride store in Winner — about 35 miles from the Wanless ranch. It matched all five white balls and the Powerball with Wanless' incredibly lucky combination of 5-16-6-21-12 and the 7 Powerball. The numbers represent the day and month of family members' birthdays, state lottery officials said. Shawn Ulmer, manager of the Ampride for the last seven years, said her store sold about 300 to 400 tickets for the lottery drawing. "Everyone here is very excited about selling the winning ticket," she said. In the days after the winning ticket was sold, there was rampant speculation about who may have won. During his brief remarks at Friday's news conference, Wanless thanked South Dakotans "for your patience in waiting for me to come forward." He declined to answer questions from reporters later. The family raises cattle, sheep and horses on their ranch in eastern Todd County, the nation's seventh-poorest county in 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. "They work hard, backbreaking hard work," said county assessor Cathy Vrbka, a family friend. Neighbors said Wanless' father Arlen, 54, has made a living in recent years mainly by buying and selling scrap metal. Dan Clark, an auctioneer from Winner and a friend of more than two decades, said Arlen Wanless helped him at many auctions by buying things no one else wanted. "Over the last 20 years, Arlen's bailed me out a lot of times," Clark said. Poppinga and Martin report for the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, S.D.; Contributing: The Associated Press Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more