Mesa couple wins $1.1 million from Arizona Lottery

Ricky and Connie Ferguson of Mesa have watched TV shows about people blowing through their lottery winnings and, like a number of viewers, vowed not to do the same.

Unlike those viewers, the Fergusons have a chance to test their mettle.

The Arizona Lottery on Monday presented a $1.1 million check to the couple, who purchased a winning "Pick 3" ticket on Saturday.

The couple said one of the first calls they made upon learning of their bounty was to a financial adviser.

"It's still like a dream, and we're just trying to make sure that we make the right decisions with it," Ricky said.

The Fergusons had taken a trip up to Heber on Saturday to do some hiking and photography and stopped at the area Circle K, where Connie purchased the winning ticket.

She said she didn't even check the numbers on her ticket until the next morning.

When the Fergusons realized they had won on Sunday, the Arizona Lottery office was closed, forcing them to wait until Monday morning to see how much money they had actually won.

Connie said she didn't sleep much in the hours leading up to when they were told they had won $1.1 million. They immediately went to speak to a financial adviser about the best way to save and spend the money.

"We're going to pay the house off and then invest most of it," Connie said, adding that they also plan to donate to cancer research in memory of her sister, who died of a brain tumor.

The new millionaires also hope to eventually purchase a Corvette and drive the coastline to Oregon to visit family. Their five children are said to be ecstatic for their parents's win.