Matter of Estate of Wales

This is an appeal from an order of the District Court of the Third Judicial District in and for the County of Powell, Montana, concerning the distribution of the estate of Margaret Wales. The sole issue presented is whether a gift made by the deceased in her lifetime took the place of and adeemed by satisfaction devises contained in her last will and testament.

Margaret A. Wales (“Anita”) died on April 14, 1984. She had previously executed a last will and testament on December 1, 1976. In her will, Anita had distributed 147 shares of her stock in Wales Brothers, a ranching corporation, as…