When someone you love passes away, or when you are trying to find information about a recent death in your community, knowing where to look for accurate and timely information becomes incredibly important. For residents of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the surrounding Minnehaha County, the Argus Leader has served as the primary source of obituaries and death notices for well over a century. Whether you are grieving a loss, researching your family history, or simply trying to stay informed about your community, understanding how to navigate the Argus Leader obituary system can save you time and frustration during what is often already a difficult period.
I remember when my grandmother passed away a few years ago. Our family was scattered across different states, and we needed to get the Word out quickly about her memorial service. The Argus Leader was the obvious choice because that was where everyone in Sioux Falls looked for this kind of information. But I will be honest, the process was not as straightforward as I had expected. There were questions about pricing, formatting, and timing that we had to figure out on the fly. That experience taught me how valuable it is to have a clear guide for navigating these systems before you actually need them.
What Exactly Are Argus Leader Obituaries and Why Do They Still Matter
The Argus Leader is the largest newspaper in South Dakota, with a history dating back to 1881 when it was first published as the Dakota Daily Leader. Over the decades, it has evolved from a simple daily newspaper into a comprehensive digital news platform. Still, one thing that has remained constant is its role as the community’s official record-keeper of deaths and memorial services. In an age where social media announcements seem to dominate, you might wonder why newspaper obituaries still matter. The answer is simple: credibility, permanence, and reach.
When a death notice appears in the Argus Leader, it carries a weight that a Facebook post simply cannot match. Funeral directors, estate attorneys, and government agencies all recognize newspaper obituaries as official documentation. The digital versions remain searchable online for years, creating a permanent record that helps future generations with genealogy research. Plus, not everyone in Sioux Falls uses social media, especially older residents who are often the very people who need to know about the passing of their contemporaries.
The Argus Leader partners with Legacy.com and maintains its own obituary portal at argusleader.obituaries.com, where families can post detailed memorials that include photos, service information, and guest books for condolences. These online obituaries often receive thousands of views, connecting far-flung family members and old friends who might otherwise never hear the news.
How to Access Current Argus Leader Obituaries Online
Finding recent obituaries in the Argus Leader is actually quite straightforward once you know where to look. The newspaper maintains a dedicated obituaries section on its main website at argusleader.com/obituaries. This page displays the most recent death notices in reverse chronological order, with the newest postings appearing first.
Each obituary listing typically includes the deceased person’s full name, age, hometown, and a summary of their life and survivors. Clicking on an individual name takes you to the full obituary, which may include a photograph, detailed biographical information, service times and locations, and an online guest book where friends and family can leave condolences. The guest book feature is particularly valuable because it creates a lasting tribute that family members can revisit for years to come.
For those who prefer mobile access, the Argus Leader website is fully responsive and works well on smartphones and tablets. While there is no dedicated obituary app, the mobile website lets you search, read, and even submit obituaries directly from your phone. This mobility is crucial when you are traveling or need to check information while making funeral arrangements.
Third-party websites like Legacy.com and We Remember also aggregate Argus Leader obituaries, and sometimes they offer additional features, such as email alerts. If you want to be notified whenever an obituary is published for someone with a specific last name, setting up a Legacy.com account might be worth your time. However, for the most current and complete information, I always recommend starting with the Argus Leader’s official obituary page.
Effective Search Strategies for Finding Specific Obituaries
If you are looking for a specific obituary, such as one for someone who passed away weeks or months ago, you will need to use the search functionality. The Argus Leader’s obituary page includes a search bar where you can enter a last name, first name, or keyword. Here is a tip from my own experience: start with just the last name. Many obituaries are filed under formal names that might differ from the nicknames you knew the person by, and searching too specifically can cause you to miss the result you need.
For example, if you are searching for “Mike Johnson” but his obituary was published as “Michael R. Johnson,” a first-name search might not return results. However, searching just “Johnson” will show you all recent obituaries for that surname, allowing you to scan for the right person. You can then narrow results by date range if there are too many matches.
Another useful approach is searching by funeral home. The Argus Leader works closely with several major funeral homes in the Sioux Falls area, including George Boom Funeral Home, Miller Funeral Home, Heartland Funeral Home, Heritage Funeral Home, and Anderson Funeral Home. If you know which funeral home is handling arrangements, you can often find the obituary more quickly by visiting that funeral home’s website directly, as they typically publish the full obituary simultaneously with the Argus Leader submission.
When searching historical obituaries, particularly for genealogy research, you may need to use Newspapers.com, which has digitized the Argus Leader archives back to 1886. This subscription service allows you to search by keyword, date, and even specific page numbers. Many public libraries, including the Siouxland Libraries in Sioux Falls, offer free access to Newspapers.com for library card holders, so check there before paying for a personal subscription.
How to Submit an Obituary to the Argus Leader
Submitting an obituary to the Argus Leader is a process that the newspaper has streamlined significantly in recent years. However, there are still several options depending on your preferences and timeline. Understanding these options ahead of time can help you make the best choice for your family during an already stressful period.
The most common method is working through a funeral home. When you arrange services with a funeral home in Sioux Falls, they typically handle the obituary submission as part of their service package. The funeral director will gather the necessary information, format it in accordance with Argus Leader guidelines, and submit it on your behalf. This is often the easiest route because funeral homes submit obituaries daily and know exactly what information is required. They can also advise you on length restrictions and pricing tiers.
However, if you need to submit an obituary directly, perhaps because you are handling arrangements without a funeral home or need to correct, the Argus Leader offers several direct submission methods. The online submission portal at argusleader.obituaries.com allows you to enter the obituary text, upload photos, and pay online using a credit card. This system is available 24/7, which is helpful when you are working under tight deadlines.
For those who prefer speaking with someone directly, the Argus Leader obituary department can be reached by phone. According to my research, the general submission line is available during business hours, though specific phone numbers may change; I recommend checking the current contact information on the Argus Leader website. When calling, have all necessary information ready: the deceased’s full name, age, date of death, service information, biographical details, and survivor information.
Email submission is also an option, with the address typically gannettobits@obituaries.com; verify this on the current website, as email addresses sometimes change. When submitting by email, include your phone number so the obituary staff can contact you with questions or to confirm payment.
Understanding Argus Leader Obituary Costs and Pricing
One of the most common questions families have is about the cost of publishing an obituary in the Argus Leader. Unfortunately, there is no simple one-size-fits-all answer, as pricing depends on several factors, including length, photo inclusion, and whether you want the obituary to appear in the print edition, the online edition, or both.
Generally speaking, the Argus Leader charges by the line or by the Word, with minimum charges for even the shortest obituaries. As of recent information, basic obituaries might start around $100-$150 for a brief death notice, while longer, more detailed obituaries with photos can cost several hundred dollars. The online-only option is typically less expensive than print, and many families choose to publish online with a brief death notice in the print edition to save costs while still reaching the broadest audience.
Photos add to the cost, usually as a flat fee per image. The Argus Leader accepts digital photos, and the quality requirements are fairly standard; high-resolution images work best. If you are submitting through a funeral home, they often include one photo in their service fee, with additional photos costing extra.
There are also premium options available, such as having the obituary featured more prominently on the website, extended online hosting (though basic obituaries typically remain online indefinitely), or inclusion in special memorial sections during holidays. Before submitting, request a price quote to avoid surprises. Funeral homes are usually transparent about these costs and can help you choose options that fit your budget.
I want to share a personal opinion here. While the cost of obituaries can seem high, especially when families are already facing funeral expenses, consider the value of the permanent record you are creating. Unlike flowers or other funeral expenses, which fade quickly, an obituary remains a historical document that future generations can find. When my family submitted my grandmother’s obituary, we initially balked at the cost. Still, five years later, I have cousins who found that obituary online and learned details about her life they never knew. That lasting value justified the expense.
The Difference Between Obituaries and Death Notices
Many people use the terms “obituary” and “death notice” interchangeably, but in the newspaper industry, they refer to different types of announcements with different purposes and price points. Understanding this distinction can help you make the right choice for your family and budget.
A death notice is a brief, factual announcement that typically includes only the essential information: the person’s name, age, date of death, and basic service information. Death notices are shorter, less expensive, and serve the primary purpose of informing the community that someone has passed and when services will be held. They are typically just a few lines long.
An obituary, by contrast, is a longer, narrative piece that tells the story of the person’s life. A full obituary includes biographical information, details about family members, career highlights, hobbies, community involvement, and often a personal message from the family. Obituaries are more expensive because they take up more space and require more editorial work, but they create a meaningful tribute that honors the deceased’s life story.
The Argus Leader offers both options, and your choice should depend on your budget, your desire to share the person’s story, and how widely you need to distribute the information. If the deceased had a large community of friends and acquaintances who would want to know details about their life, the obituary is worth the extra cost. If the goal is simply to inform close family and friends of service times, a death notice may suffice.
Major Funeral Homes Working with Argus Leader
Sioux Falls has several well-established funeral homes that work closely with the Argus Leader to publish obituaries. Knowing these partnerships can help you understand the local ecosystem of death announcements. It may help you find obituaries even if you do not see them immediately on the Argus Leader website.
George Boom Funeral Home is one of the largest and oldest funeral homes in Sioux Falls, with multiple locations throughout the city. They handle a significant volume of obituary submissions and maintain an excellent website where you can view current and past obituaries. Their online obituaries often include video tributes and extensive photo galleries.
Miller Funeral Home, located on South Marion Road, is another major provider that submits regularly to the Argus Leader. They are known for their personalized service and can help families craft meaningful obituary text.
Heartland Funeral Home in Brandon, just east of Sioux Falls, serves the eastern South Dakota community and submits obituaries for residents throughout the region. They are particularly active in publishing detailed life stories.
Heritage Funeral Home and Anderson Funeral Home round out the major providers, each with its own specialties and service areas. All of these funeral homes can submit obituaries directly to the Argus Leader as part of their service packages.
Tips for Writing Meaningful Obituaries
Suppose you find yourself responsible for writing an obituary, whether for submission to the Argus Leader or for use at a funeral service, the task can feel overwhelming. You are grieving, yet you need to summarize an entire life in just a few paragraphs. Here are some guidelines I have learned over the years, both from personal experience and from speaking with funeral directors.
Start with the basics: full name, age, date of death, and place of residence. Then move to biographical information in reverse-chronological order: current residence and family situation first, then career, education, and earlier life. Include information about surviving family members, ensuring all names are spelled correctly. List predeceased family members as well, as this information helps distant relatives understand their connection.
The middle section should capture the essence of who the person was. What were they passionate about? What will people remember most about them? Were they known for their gardening, their volunteer work, their sense of humor? These details transform a dry announcement into a living tribute.
Conclude with service information: visitation times, funeral or memorial service details, burial information, and any special requests such as charitable donations instead of flowers. Proofread carefully, then have someone else proofread again. Errors in obituaries are unfortunately common and can be painful for families to see in print.
Accessing Historical Argus Leader Obituaries for Genealogy
For those researching family history, the Argus Leader archives are a treasure trove of information. Obituaries from decades past can reveal family relationships, maiden names, immigration stories, and community connections that are difficult to find elsewhere.
The most comprehensive resource is Newspapers.com, which has partnered with the Argus Leader to digitize issues dating back to 1886. This subscription service lets you search by name, date, keyword, or browse specific dates. If you are serious about genealogy research, the subscription cost is well worth it.
For occasional researchers, check with Siouxland Libraries. The main branch in downtown Sioux Falls offers free access to Newspapers.com for library card holders, and the librarians can help you navigate the system. The South Dakota State Historical Society in Pierre also maintains newspaper archives, though accessing them may require an in-person visit.
When searching historical obituaries, remember that naming conventions and obituary styles have changed over time. Older obituaries may use formal names rather than nicknames, and women may be listed under their husband’s names (Mrs. John Smith rather than Mary Smith). Searching by address or by the names of surviving children can sometimes yield results when name searches fail.
Conclusion
Navigating the world of Argus Leader obituaries does not have to be complicated once you understand the system. Whether you are searching for information about a recent passing, submitting an obituary for a loved one, or researching your family history, the Argus Leader provides comprehensive resources both online and in print. The key is knowing where to look, understanding the difference between various types of notices, and being aware of the costs and timelines involved.
For those in the midst of grief, I want to offer this advice: do not rush the obituary writing process if you can help it. While there are often time pressures, especially if you want the notice to appear before funeral services, taking an extra hour to craft a meaningful tribute is worth it. The obituary is often the last public Word about a person’s life, and it deserves thought and care. The Argus Leader, despite being a large media organization, understands this and provides the tools families need to honor their loved ones properly.
Remember that obituaries serve multiple purposes: they inform the community, invite people to services, create a permanent historical record, and help families process their grief by celebrating a life lived. By understanding how to use the Argus Leader obituary system effectively, you can ensure that your loved one’s story is told with the dignity and completeness it deserves.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does it cost to post an obituary in the Argus Leader?
Costs vary by length and features, but basic obituaries typically start at $100-$150, with longer obituaries with photos costing several hundred dollars. Online-only obituaries are generally less expensive than those appearing in print.
How do I submit an obituary to the Argus Leader?
You can submit online at argusleader.obituaries.com, by phone, or by email. Most families submit through their funeral home, which handles the process as part of their services.
How long do obituaries stay online?
Argus Leader obituaries typically remain online indefinitely, creating a permanent searchable record. However, guest books may close after a certain period.
Can I submit an obituary without using a funeral home?
Yes, you can submit directly to the Argus Leader through their online portal or by contacting their obituary department directly.
How quickly will my obituary appear?
Obituaries submitted by deadline typically appear the next day, though online postings may appear within hours. Check with the Argus Leader for current deadline times.
What information do I need to submit an obituary?
You will need the full name, age, date of death, service information, biographical details, and names of survivors. Have this information ready before you begin the submission process.
Can I include a photo with the obituary?
Yes, photos can be included for an additional fee. Digital photos should be high-resolution for the best print quality.
How do I find an old obituary from the Argus Leader?
For recent obituaries, search argusleader.com. For historical obituaries, use Newspapers.com or visit Siouxland Libraries for free archive access.
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