A friend’s text message prompted a Kalamazoo couple to check their Mega Millions tickets and find they had a $1 million winner.

Pamela Ballard, 64, matched the five white balls drawn – 04-11-13-19-31 – in Friday’s drawing to win a $1 million prize. The winning ticket was bought at the Marathon gas station, located at 2091 South Sprinkle Street in Kalamazoo.

“A friend saw on the news that a big winner was sold at the Marathon station, and she knows that’s where I get my tickets,” said Ballard. “She sent me a text and told me someone had won big there so I called my husband and had him check our tickets.

“When I got home he was just bawling and I knew immediately we had won the $1 million prize.”

Ballard visited Lottery headquarters Monday to claim the big prize. With her winnings, she plans to complete some home projects, set up college funds for her grandkids, and then save the remainder.

“It’s a relief to have this money for ourselves and our family. We won’t change how we live, but it will be nice to be comfortable,” Ballard said.

Mega Millions drawings take place each Tuesday and Friday evening. Each Mega Millions play is only $2. For an additional $1 per play, players have the opportunity to add a “Megaplier” that can multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to five times.

Mega Millions tickets for may be purchased online at MichiganLottery.com and at the Lottery’s 10,500 retailers around the state until 10:45 p.m. the day of the drawing.