The Iowa Supreme Court says a woman must be buried in Iowa even though she clearly wanted her final resting place to be in Montana.
The court says in a ruling that Mary Florence Whalen's husband, Michael, has the final say even though she left specific instructions for burial in Billings, Mont.
Her husband plans to bury her in Anamosa. Her body has been at a funeral home there since her death in June.
The court says a 2008 Iowa law creates a process for people to spell out in specific documents who they want to handle burial arrangements. Since Whalen didn't do that, the court in a 5-to-2 decision says her husband decides.
Chief Justice Mark Cady says the majority of justices are misinterpreting the law.
