LAKE STEVENS — A few weeks ago, Bob Eaton wondered whether he’d be able to pay his employees holiday bonuses this year.

After all, the bonuses are a tradition for the Eaton family, which owns five Chevron stations in north Snohomish County.

Eaton had already told employees of his Frontier Village station not to expect them this year because of the recession.

On Nov. 21, Kristopher Johnson, an unemployed Arlington man, bought the winning ticket in the $6.5 million Washington’s Lottery Lotto jackpot from Eaton’s Lake Stevens Chevron station.

Selling the winning jackpot ticket meant the Frontier Village station received a commission equal to 1 percent of the jackpot — $65,000 — much of which will be distributed among 45 employees of the Eaton family’s five stations. The Eatons declined to say how much they give out in bonuses.

“We knew instantly we were going to share a portion of it,” said Eaton, 40, of Lake Stevens.

Eight employees donned Santa hats for a Tuesday event where Fil Gudmundson, the Washington Lottery regional manager, presented Eaton with an oversized check.

When the family learned Bob Eaton’s station sold the winning ticket, the excitement was palpable, Don Eaton said.

“Bob and I just looked at each other and went ‘Yeah!’ ” he said.

It’s a family business and that spirit is extended to all employees, whether they’re new hires or old hands, Bob Eaton said.

James Mitchell, 22, an employee at the Frontier Village station since 2008, said he was elated to learn he’d get a bonus this year.

“I’ll be able to buy everyone more Christmas presents,” he said. “I thought I was going to be broke for Christmas.”

Oscar Halpert: 425-339-3429, ohalpert@heraldnet.com.