Anniversary gift was first thought to be a small win, turned out to be $25,000 a year for life

The Massachusetts State Lottery has announced the winner of a $25,000 a year for life prize in the multi-state Lucky for Life game after the first five numbers on her Quic Pic ticket matched those selected in the drawing that took place July 28.

Shelley German said she put her winning ticket in an anniversary card for her husband thinking it had matched four of the first five numbers. When they rechecked the numbers together, they realized that all five of those numbers matched.

German and her husband, who were celebrating their 43rd anniversary, claimed the prize Wednesday, August 2 at Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters in Dorchester. She chose the annuity option on her prize and received the first of 20 annual payments of $25,000 (before taxes). She said on their 38th anniversary she won a new car in a raffle, then also noted that her first real jackpot was her husband.

German, who plays Lucky for Life regularly after having seen it on an episode of the TV show “My Lottery Dream Home,” said she plans to spend some of her winnings on home improvements.

She purchased her winning ticket at Ted’s Stateline Mobil, 551 Broadway in Methuen. The store receives a $5,000 bonus for its sale of the ticket.