Matter of Estate of Fiksdal

SABERS, Justice.

Decedent’s children and his executor appeal from the trial court’s judgment that decedent made an inter vivos gift of his coin collection to his wife. We reverse.

Statement of Facts

Johan Richmond Fiksdal (Fiksdal), owned a furniture store and funeral parlor in Webster, South Dakota. He was an avid hunter and collector, and had among his possessions valuable coin, stamp, gun, and Indian artifact collections.

In the fall of 1975 and prior to their marriage, Fiksdal discussed his coin collection with Borghild Peters (Borghild). According to her testimony, he stated, “If you marry…