Matter of Estate of Kuhn

SABERS, Justice.

Whether joint accounts passed to surviv- or upon death of original depositor or are part of decedent’s estate.

Facts

Frances T. Kuhn (decedent) was born in Zeeland, North Dakota in 1910. She lived most of her life in McIntosh, South Dakota, where she and her husband owned a grocery store. When she died in 1989, she had been a widow for at least ten years. She was survived by several brothers and sisters, including Frank Ziegler (Frank), who lived in Zeeland, and Eva Jangula (Eva), who lived in Bismarck.

Between June 26, 1981 and August 9, 1988, decedent purchased eighteen…