In the event of the death of a recipient, leaving little or no estate requiring formal administration, but to whom a check for public assistance has been delivered prior to his death, or for whose interment burial relief has been granted, the district court, without fee, on petition of the state department, and with the consent of the deceased recipient’s nearest kin, next friend, guardian, natural guardian or custodian, after due notice and hearing, shall appoint a capable and trustwarthy [trustworthy] person as his administrator for public assistance, without bond, whose duty it shall be, without compensation, to receive and disburse the recipient’s assistance on behalf of the deceased recipient’s estate, making true and accurate account thereof to the state department and the district court. Funds in the hands of such administrator shall be disbursed only for the purposes contemplated by this act, or as directed in the grant thereof.