A farm house like this is typical in South Dakota. When the last remaining property owner dies, it's either passed along to the children, or written off if there are no heirs. In either case, the property is usually left to rot because the children couldn't care less about an old farm house. The heir of this particular property (who was in her 50's), put everything inside up for auction. My mother happens to be a connoisseur of old farm houses and items within, so I tagged along while she shopped.