THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - A Fort Smith couple has won a cool $47,211.80 in the Super 7 lottery.

Robert and Jean Sanderson won the prize on the lottery's Aug. 21 draw. Robert Sanderson said it was kind of funny when he checked the winning ticket at a scanning machine, noting he didn't have his glasses with him.

Jean and Robert Sanderson picked up their Super 7 winnings from the Western Canada Lottery Corporation. - photo courtesy of Western Canada Lottery Corporation

"I was squinting away and it said $470," he recalled with a chuckle.

However, he rescanned the ticket and took a closer look and this time thought he had won $4,700.

"I got a piece of paper to write down the whole amount and realized it was $47,000," he said, adding he couldn't believe his good luck.

The ticket matched six numbers and the bonus.

"We were only one digit off winning $10 million," Sanderson said, adding the ticket had the number 34, but needed 35.

Sanderson retired earlier this year as regional director for the South Slave with the GNWT's Department of the Executive. Jean Sanderson is also a former GNWT employee who is now working as band manager with Smith's Landing First Nation.

Fort Smith seems to have a knack for producing winners with the various tickets sold by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation, most notably an $11.3-million 6/49 jackpot in 2007.

In addition, a Fort Smith man claimed $1 million on a scratch 'n' win ticket he purchased in Yellowknife in 2005, while a couple won $50,000 in 2004. Even Robert Sanderson's brother, Ken Hudson, won $100,000 in 2007.

The Sandersons plan to put their winnings away for retirement and are thinking about treating themselves to a new trailer.