This may help:
http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?/topic/48347-ira-owner-turns-age-70-12-but-dies-before-rbd/
see post #2 (by ERISAtoolkit): "... the death RMD rules preempt the lifetime RMD rules." Under the death RMD rules, the participant did not reach her required beginning date. Item 4 of post #1 applies.