87-year-old Pennsylvania man wins $10K a month for life

Berks County resident Alfred Behney claimed one of the Pennsylvania Lottery’s top Scratch-Off prizes after buying a ticket during a stop for coffee

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — An 87-year-old Berks County man who spent decades behind the wheel as a truck driver is celebrating a life-changing Pennsylvania Lottery win after claiming a top prize worth $10,000 a month for life.

Alfred Behney was presented with a commemorative check Friday at Pennsylvania Lottery headquarters after winning on a $10,000 a Month for Life Scratch-Off ticket purchased during a routine stop for coffee.

Behney, a retired truck driver and frequent visitor to Amish and Mennonite farm stands, said he purchased the winning ticket on May 27 at Star Gas & Diesel, located at 8558 Lancaster Avenue in Bethel Township.

The retailer will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

According to the Pennsylvania Lottery, Behney discovered the win after scanning the ticket at the store.

He said both he and the clerk were stunned by the result.

Rather than taking the game’s lump-sum cash option of $1.6 million, Behney chose the annuity prize, which pays $10,000 per month for life.

The win adds another chapter to a life that has included military service, athletics and professional baseball.

Behney said he grew up in Schuylkill County, where he was an all-star athlete before serving in the U.S. Army following the Korean War.

He also signed a minor league baseball contract with the Detroit Tigers organization in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1961.

Pennsylvania Lottery officials highlighted Behney’s long and varied life experiences while congratulating him on the prize.

The Lottery noted that proceeds from ticket sales help fund programs and services for older Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth.

Scratch-Off prizes must be claimed within one year of the game’s posted end-sale date.

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Key Points

• Berks County resident Alfred Behney won a top prize on the Pennsylvania Lottery’s $10,000 a Month for Life Scratch-Off.
• The 87-year-old purchased the winning ticket at Star Gas & Diesel in Bethel Township.
• Behney chose the annuity option, paying $10,000 per month for life.