Navigating loss is hard. When someone passes away in Utah or within the broader Intermountain West, families often turn to Deseret News obituaries to share their loved one's story. These notices do more than just announce a death. They preserve family history, anchor local memory, and offer a public space for community mourning.
Writing or finding a notice in a historic publication like the Deseret News requires knowing how their submission systems work, what information you need to gather, and how digital archives have changed genealogy research. Whether you're drafting a tribute for an upcoming service or researching an ancestor from decades past, understanding the structure and process saves time during an emotional moment.
How to Submit an Obituary to the Deseret News
Submitting an obituary isn't as simple as sending a quick email. The process involves specific formatting rules, deadlines, and cost structures managed through digital submission portals. Most major regional papers partner with specialized networks like Legacy.com to handle family submissions.
To start the submission process, you'll typically work through the Deseret News Legacy portal. Here's what you need to prepare before you begin writing:
- Basic Vital Details: Full legal name, maiden name if applicable, dates of birth and death, and city of residence.
- Family Tree Data: Surviving family members, including spouses, children, siblings, and grandchildren, as well as those who preceded them in death.
- Service Details: Date, time, and location of viewings, funeral services, graveside rites, or celebrations of life.
- Charitable Preferences: Specific charities or organizations designated for memorial donations instead of flowers.
Deadlines matter immensely when coordinating a funeral. Most daily newspapers enforce strict morning cutoff times to ensure the notice appears in print for the desired day. If you miss the print deadline, your notice can still appear online immediately, which is where most readers look first anyway.
Understanding Costs and Formatting Options
Publishing a notice in a major daily newspaper involves costs determined by length, photo inclusion, and whether it runs in print, online, or both. Unlike social media posts, print space is metered by lines or inches.
- Line Ads vs. Display Tributes: Simple text notices list basic vital stats and service times. Display tributes allow for custom formatting, multiple photographs, and longer biographical narratives.
- Photo Selection: Choose a clear, high-resolution portrait. Avoid group photos that require cropping out other people, as low-contrast images blur during the printing press process.
- Pricing Factors: Adding color photos, extended word counts, and multi-day print runs will increase the total cost. Ask the funeral director for a transparent breakdown, as many funeral homes handle obituary submission directly as part of their package services.
Searching Historic Deseret News Obituaries for Genealogy
For family historians, the Deseret News archives are a goldmine. Founded in 1850, the paper has documented generations of Utah residents, pioneers, and community members. Searching these records helps trace lineage, verify birth and death years, and uncover forgotten family stories.
When searching digital databases, don't rely on exact keyword matches alone. Spelling errors in historical OCR (optical character recognition) scans happen frequently. Try these search strategies:
- Use Wildcards: If a surname has multiple spellings (like Jensen vs. Jenson), use wildcard searches if the archive permits.
- Search by Maiden Name: Women are frequently listed under their husband's surname in older archives. Search by maiden name combined with a birth location or parents' names to find correct records.
- Cross-Reference with Cemeteries: Pair obituary dates with cemetery databases like Find A Grave to confirm burial locations and cross-check dates of death.
If you're researching nineteenth or early twentieth-century ancestors, public libraries and university collections in Utah provide access to microfilm archives that digital search engines miss.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Tribute
Writing about someone's life under pressure leads to common errors that can delay publication or cause unnecessary heartache.
- Rushing the Proofread: Double-check the spelling of every surviving and deceased family member's name. A typo in a grandchild's name or a service time creates immediate confusion.
- Overcomplicating the Narrative: While every life is unique, an obituary shouldn't read like a full-length biography. Focus on the core milestones, career achievements, and personal traits that defined the person.
- Neglecting Security: Be cautious about publishing too much personal data, such as home addresses of grieving family members left vacant during the funeral service. Mentioning donations to a specific charity is safer than listing private home locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find an obituary older than 30 days in the Deseret News?
Recent notices stay on the active Legacy partner site, but older records move into historical newspaper archives. You can access these through digital genealogy platforms like Ancestry or through local public library databases using a valid library card.
Can I edit an obituary after it has been published?
Online notices can often be updated or corrected through the submission portal, though a fee may apply. Print notices cannot be changed once the press run has started, so proofreading the final draft carefully before submission is critical.
Do I have to publish an obituary through the newspaper?
No. Publication is optional. Many families choose to share memorial information exclusively through social media, private group chats, or memorial websites without purchasing a traditional newspaper notice.
What should I include if I have a strict budget?
Focus on the essentials: full name, age, date of passing, service times, and a single photograph. You can publish a longer, more detailed remembrance on a free online memorial page while keeping the paid newspaper notice concise.
