4/26/2008:
In 1954, the grand prize of the raffle for the St. Leo School's carnival in Minot was really grand, and tempting, too: a cream and green-colored, 1954 Dodge.
One very lucky person was drawn and announced, and on this day, the car was scheduled to be delivered to her—a five-year-old Menoken girl named Kathleen Richter.
Money was tight for the family, but when the raffle came around, Mrs. Richter bought a ticket for each of the members of the family—each of the ten children—saying that it was for a good cause and the Lord would provide.
Her parents put on over 100,000 miles before she reached an age to drive, even though she tried once at age eight and a half.
It was the only thing Kathleen ever won. But it was her father who got to drive it home.
By Sarah Walker
Sources:
Minot Daily News, Monday, April 26, 1954
Information provided by Ms. Elvira Rogstad, sister to Kathleen Richter