Wife's small rebellion played role in $340 million Powerball win

SALEM, Ore. – Steve West wasn't interested when his in-laws — Bob and Frances Chaney — asked if he and his wife Carolyn wanted to buy some lottery tickets last month and try for the record $340 million Powerball jackpot.

"I told my wife we never win at that," West said in an interview on KOBI-TV in the Southern Oregon town of Medford.

Carolyn West went in on $40 worth of tickets anyway. It was a small act of rebellion, but one that played a role in the four purchasing the $340 million Powerball ticket.

Today, Oregon Lottery officials confirmed that the four held the winning ticket, which was drawn on Oct. 19.

The four arrived at lottery headquarters today to have the ticket verified, claim their winnings and discuss whether they want the money in a lump sum or 30 annual payments.

Chuck Baumann, spokesman for the Oregon Lottery, said the four will split the jackpot.

Baumann said Steve West is 48 years old, and his wife is 47. He did not have ages for the Chaneys. All four live in Southern Oregon.

Two days after the winning ticket was drawn on Oct. 19, Steve West appeared on national TV to say he and relatives had purchased it. His claim did not become official until today, when the Wests and the Chaneys showed up at lottery headquarters in Salem.

They didn't talk to reporters as they were ushered into a secure area.

In the KOBI-TV interview, Frances Chaney said she hadn't given a thought to playing Powerball, but "then I heard on the news that it was up to $340 million.

"So I called Carolyn and said 'give me $20 and we'll put in 20 and buy some tickets, thinking that if we won $20, $100, maybe a thousand dollars, fine that was fun playing and it never even crossed my mind that we had a chance in zillions to win the one ticket," she said in the TV interview.

On the night of Oct. 19, Frances Chaney went onto the Internet to check the lottery numbers.

"First I checked the Powerball and saw that it was 29 and thought, 'well good, at least we got $5,' and then I was checking the others, and could not believe we had all five," she said.

"I checked five, six, seven Internet sites and they were all saying the same thing."

Bob Chaney had already gone to bed. His wife ran in to wake him, telling him: "I think we just won the lottery."

She then called her daughter, telling her "you need to get over here."

The four had trouble believing they really had the winning ticket.

"We held it up to the light" to make sure they were the winning numbers, Frances Chaney said.

Steve West, a self-employed businessman, said "I'm going to continue working because it will keep my mind active and it will keep my body a little more active. To sit at home all day doesn't interest me."

Still, West said he may cut his hours back.