When my grandmother passed away three years ago, I found myself sitting at her kitchen table in Sioux Falls, surrounded by photo albums and handwritten recipes, trying to piece together the story of her life for the obituary. I had never written one before, and the weight of capturing eighty-seven years of love, struggle, and joy in a few hundred words felt overwhelming. That experience taught me something important: obituaries are not just formal announcements of death. They are the final chapters of life stories, preserved for future generations, and in a community like Sioux Falls, the Argus Leader has been the trusted keeper of these stories for nearly a century and a half.
The Argus Leader stands as South Dakota’s largest newspaper, reaching approximately 75% of adults in the Sioux Falls metropolitan area through both print and digital platforms. For families dealing with loss and for researchers tracing their roots, understanding how to navigate the obituary ecosystem connected to this publication can save time, reduce stress, and ensure that loved ones receive the dignified remembrance they deserve. This guide walks you through everything you need to know, from searching existing obituaries to writing and submitting new ones, with practical advice drawn from real experiences and authoritative sources.
Understanding the Argus Leader and Its Role in the Community
The Argus Leader traces its origins back to 1881 when the Sioux Falls Argus began publication as a weekly newspaper. It merged with the Sioux Falls Leader in 1887, creating the foundation for what would become the region’s dominant news source. Through ownership changes, fires, relocations, and the transition from evening to morning publication, the newspaper has maintained its commitment to covering local news, sports, business, and community affairs across eastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, and northwestern Iowa.
Today, as part of the Gannett Co. and the USA TODAY Network, the Argus Leader continues its tradition of serving as the primary record-keeper for significant life events in the region. When someone passes away in Sioux Falls or the surrounding communities, their obituary often appears first in the Argus Leader, creating a permanent record that serves multiple purposes. For immediate family and friends, it provides essential information about funeral services and memorial gatherings. For the broader community, it offers a chance to pay respects and share memories. For future generations and genealogy researchers, it becomes a vital link in the chain of family history, often containing details about birthplace, parents, spouses, children, careers, and community involvement that might not exist in any other formal record.
The newspaper’s obituary section reflects the character of Sioux Falls itself: a growing city that maintains strong connections to its agricultural roots, Scandinavian and German heritage, and small-town values despite approaching a metropolitan population of nearly 300,000. Reading through recent obituaries reveals stories of farmers who worked the same land for sixty years, teachers who shaped thousands of young minds, veterans who served their country with quiet dignity, and immigrants who built new lives on the prairie.
How to Search Current and Recent Argus Leader Obituaries
Finding obituaries in the Argus Leader has become significantly easier in the digital age, though the process still requires some navigation skills. The most direct approach is to start at the newspaper’s official website, argusleader.com, where the obituaries section provides a searchable database of recent death notices and full obituaries.
When you visit the obituaries page, you will typically see listings from the past several days organized chronologically. Each entry includes the deceased person’s name, age, location, and funeral home handling arrangements. Clicking on individual listings reveals the full obituary text, which may include biographical details, service information, family member names, and sometimes photographs. The Argus Leader partners with Legacy.com, one of the largest online obituary platforms, to host and archive these notices, which means that even if you miss the print edition, the digital record remains accessible.
For more effective searching, use specific strategies rather than browsing. If you know the exact name, enter it in the search function, but try variations: include middle names or initials, maiden names for women, and common nicknames. For example, someone named Margaret might be listed as Maggie, Marge, or Peggy. If the exact name search yields no results, try searching just the last name, then scan the results for the first name.
Date ranges matter significantly. The online database typically maintains records for several years, but coverage varies. For obituaries from the past few weeks, the Argus Leader website provides the most current information. For older records, you may need to use Legacy.com’s broader search functions or turn to alternative sources.
Another practical approach is to check funeral home websites directly. Most funeral homes in the Sioux Falls area maintain their own obituary pages and often post notices before they appear in the newspaper. George Boom Funeral Home, Miller Funeral Home, Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home, and others regularly update their websites with current service information and full obituary texts. These sites sometimes include additional features such as online guest books, photo galleries, and livestream links for services that the newspaper obituaries may not have space for.
Major Funeral Homes in Sioux Falls and Their Online Resources
The funeral home landscape in Sioux Falls includes several established providers, each with its own approaches to obituary publication and memorial services. Understanding these options helps families make informed decisions and helps researchers know where to look for information.
George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory stands as one of the most prominent funeral service providers in the region. Located on East 10th Street, they handle a significant volume of the area’s funeral arrangements and maintain a comprehensive online obituary database. Their website allows visitors to search for current and past services, sign up for email notifications when new obituaries are posted, and even watch livestreamed services for those who cannot attend in person. Recent listings show they serve not just Sioux Falls but surrounding communities, including Brandon, Harrisburg, and Tea.
Miller Funeral Home operates multiple locations in the Sioux Falls area and similarly maintains an active online presence. Their obituary pages often include detailed service information, family photos, and options to send flowers or make memorial donations. The funeral home emphasizes personalized service, and this often reflects in the obituary writing assistance they provide to families.
Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home, located on South Minnesota Avenue, serves families with a focus on creating meaningful celebrations of life. Their website features current services and provides resources for families navigating the grief process. Like other providers, they coordinate with the Argus Leader for publication in the newspaper while maintaining their own digital memorials.
Heritage Funeral Home and Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel also serve the Sioux Falls community and surrounding areas, including Madison and communities in southwestern Minnesota. Anderson Funeral Home in nearby Canton, South Dakota, handles services for families in the eastern part of the metropolitan area and maintains its own obituary listings.
For researchers, checking multiple funeral home websites proves valuable because not every funeral home automatically submits obituaries to the Argus Leader, and publication timing can vary. Some families choose newspaper publication, while others rely solely on online memorials through funeral home websites or platforms like Legacy.com.
Accessing Historical Obituaries and Genealogy Resources
For those researching family history or seeking obituaries from years past, the search process requires more specialized approaches. The Argus Leader’s archives date back to its founding in 1881, but accessing these historical records requires navigating different systems based on the time period.
The Sioux Valley Genealogical Society maintains one of the most valuable resources for historical obituary research in the region. Their library, located in Sioux Falls, houses an extensive collection of obituary indexes, particularly for Argus Leader publications. While their index remains incomplete, it offers remote access to locate many obituaries from the newspaper’s history. The society charges a nominal fee of three dollars to mail copies of obituaries from their files, and their library is open to the public Monday through Friday from noon to four in the afternoon.
The South Dakota State Library provides online resources accessible through local libraries throughout the state. These include databases like AncestryPlus and HeritageQuest, which contain digitized newspaper archives including obituaries. Many South Dakota public libraries offer free access to these databases from within their buildings, and some allow remote access with library card credentials.
For serious researchers, Newspapers.com offers the most comprehensive digital archive of the Argus Leader, with coverage extending from 1886 through the present. This subscription service allows keyword searching across millions of pages, enabling users to find obituaries even when exact dates are unknown. The platform’s optical character recognition technology can search the full text of scanned newspapers, though accuracy varies with older print quality.
Individual libraries across South Dakota maintain their own obituary indexes and research services. The Sturgis Public Library, for example, offers a research service in which they search their obituary indexes and email the results as JPEG images for a five-dollar fee. They have compiled PDF indexes covering the majority of the last century for newspapers in their region.
The South Dakota State Historical Society provides a comprehensive newspaper directory that helps researchers identify which publications existed in specific communities during particular time periods. This proves invaluable when you know someone died in a specific town but are unsure which newspaper carried their obituary. By entering the city name into the Historical Society’s newspaper search form, you can see all publications from that area with their dates of operation, narrowing your search considerably.
How to Submit an Obituary to the Argus Leader
When the time comes to publish an obituary for a loved one, understanding the submission process helps ensure smooth publication during an already stressful period. The Argus Leader offers multiple submission methods designed to accommodate different needs and comfort levels with technology.
The most straightforward approach is to visit the newspaper’s dedicated obituary submission portal, typically accessible at argusleader.obituaries.com. This platform guides users through entering obituary text and funeral information, and uploading photos. The interface allows families to write from scratch or use templates and even offers an AI-assisted writing tool for those struggling to find the right words.
For those who prefer personal assistance, the Argus Leader provides telephone support through their obituary services team. Calling their dedicated line connects you with representatives who can take information over the phone, answer questions about formatting, and help determine appropriate length and content. Some funeral homes also offer to handle submission as part of their service package, coordinating directly with the newspaper on behalf of the family.
Costs for obituary publication vary based on length, photo inclusion, and additional features like special emblems or extended online memorials. Basic obituaries typically start around seventy dollars for print and digital publication, with prices increasing for longer tributes or premium placement. The newspaper offers flexible pricing to accommodate different budgets, and the online memorial included with print publication remains accessible indefinitely, creating a permanent tribute that outlasts the print edition.
Submission deadlines depend on the desired publication date. Generally, obituaries must be submitted by early afternoon the day before intended publication, though this can vary based on the day of the week and edition timing. Weekend publications may have earlier deadlines, so check with the newspaper or funeral home about specific cutoff times to avoid disappointment.
The submission form requires specific information: the deceased’s full legal name, including any nicknames or maiden names; age at death; date and place of death; key biographical details; names of immediate family members, both surviving and predeceased; and complete funeral service information, including dates, times, and locations. Families can also specify preferences for memorial donations instead of flowers, though the newspaper typically includes standard language about funeral home handling arrangements.
Writing a Meaningful Obituary: A Practical Guide
Writing an obituary while grieving can be a unique challenge. The task requires balancing factual accuracy with emotional resonance, providing necessary information while capturing the essence of a person’s life. Having helped several friends and family members through this process, I have learned that the best obituaries focus on specific memories rather than generic descriptions.
Start with the essential facts: full name, age, date of death, and location of death. Include birthplace and date for context. Then move to the narrative portion, organizing chronologically or thematically depending on what best tells the story. Chronological approaches work well for people with clear career progression or distinct life phases. Thematic organization suits those whose interests and community involvement defined them more than their job history.
When describing a person’s life, avoid relying solely on adjectives. Instead of writing “she was kind and generous,” describe the time she organized neighborhood meal trains for three months after a family lost their home to fire. Rather than stating “he loved fishing,” mention that he never missed opening day at Lake Poinsett for forty-seven consecutive years and that his tackle box contained lures dating back to the 1970s. These specific details bring the person alive for readers and create touchstones for shared memories at gatherings.
Family listings require careful attention to accuracy and completeness. Include spouse or partner, children with their spouses in parentheses, siblings, parents if living, and grandchildren. For those who have predeceased, listing them after the survivors with “preceded in death by” maintains clarity. Be sure to verify spellings of all names, as errors in print become permanent records that frustrate genealogists for decades.
Service information must be complete and accurate: date, time, and full address of the funeral home or church, plus any visitation hours. Note whether services are public or private, and include information about burial location if applicable. For cremation with later memorial services, state this clearly so friends know to wait for future announcements rather than searching for immediate services.
Finally, consider adding a brief personal touch: a favorite quote, a reference to a beloved pet, a mention of a cause they supported, or even a touch of humor if it fits their personality. One of the most memorable obituaries I read recently described the deceased as having “finally lost his battle with technology” after years of proudly refusing to own a cell phone or computer. That single line told me more about his character than paragraphs of conventional description could have conveyed.
Understanding Death Records and Privacy in South Dakota
Obituaries in newspapers differ significantly from official death records, and understanding these distinctions matters for both families and researchers. The South Dakota Department of Health maintains vital records, including death certificates, which are legal documents recording the official facts of death, the cause, the location, and the certifying physician. These records become public after fifty years, but more recent certificates remain restricted to immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with documented permission from the family.
Death certificates provide the factual foundation that often enables obituary searches. Knowing the exact date and location of death helps narrow newspaper searches to specific editions. The Department of Health offers photostatic copies intended for genealogical use that provide more information than certified copies and cost less. When ordering, specify that you need an “informational photostatic” copy for research purposes, not a certified copy for legal use.
Privacy considerations affect what information appears in obituaries. While most families choose to include standard biographical details, some opt not to publish the cause of death, particularly for sensitive circumstances like suicide or drug overdose. This choice deserves respect, and the Argus Leader generally honors family preferences regarding content. However, once published, obituaries become public records accessible to anyone, which means that including information such as specific birth dates, addresses, or detailed family information carries some privacy risk that families should consider.
For genealogists, the combination of official death records and newspaper obituaries provides the most complete picture. Death certificates offer the clinical facts, while obituaries supply the narrative context, family relationships, and community connections. Together, they create a fuller understanding of the deceased person’s life and place in their community.
Digital Memorials and Community Connections
Modern obituary publication extends far beyond print newspapers. When the Argus Leader publishes an obituary through its partnership with Legacy.com, that notice becomes part of a vast network of online memorials that serve ongoing community functions.
Legacy.com hosts guest books where friends, former colleagues, and distant relatives can leave condolences, share memories, and upload photos. These comments often reveal aspects of the person’s life that the immediate family may not have known: the coworker who remembered their daily coffee ritual. This former student credited them with career inspiration, the neighbor who appreciated their gardening advice. Reading these guestbook entries can provide comfort to grieving families and create a collective memorial richer than any single author could produce.
WeRemember.com offers another platform for Argus Leader obituaries, creating permanent memorial pages that include not just the obituary text but also photo galleries, life timelines, and family tree connections. These digital spaces allow for ongoing updates, so families can add photos from memorial services, information about scholarship funds established in the person’s name, or updates about how their legacy continues.
For the Sioux Falls community specifically, these online extensions matter because the city’s population includes many transplants and former residents who maintain strong ties to the area. When someone who moved away decades ago passes on, their obituary often notes their Sioux Falls origins, and the online guest book becomes a reunion space for old friends separated by geography but connected by memory.
Conclusion
Navigating the world of Argus Leader obituaries involves understanding multiple systems: the newspaper’s current digital platform, funeral home websites, historical archives, and genealogy resources. For families facing immediate loss, the process begins by choosing a funeral home to guide them through the submission and publication process. For researchers digging into family history, patience and systematic searching across multiple databases yield results that illuminate the past.
The obituary remains one of our most important rituals of remembrance, a tradition that has evolved from simple death notices to rich narratives of lives lived. In Sioux Falls, the Argus Leader continues its century-long role in preserving these stories, connecting community members across generations, and providing the factual foundation for family histories. Whether you are writing an obituary for a loved one or searching for information about ancestors, the resources exist to ensure these stories endure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How much does it cost to publish an obituary in the Argus Leader? A: Basic obituaries start around $70.63 for both print and online publication, with costs increasing based on length, photo inclusion, and special features.
Q: How far back do online Argus Leader obituaries go? A: The current website typically maintains several years of searchable obituaries. For historical records dating back to 1881, researchers need to use Newspapers.com, library archives, or the Sioux Valley Genealogical Society.
Q: Can I submit an obituary without using a funeral home? A: Yes, families can submit directly to the Argus Leader through their online portal or by calling their obituary services line, though many find funeral home coordination helpful during a difficult time.
Q: What is the difference between a death notice and an obituary? A: A death notice is brief and factual, listing essential details only. An obituary expands to include biographical information, family details, and narrative elements that tell the person’s story.
Q: How do I find an obituary if I don’t know the exact date of death? A: Use the Sioux Valley Genealogical Society’s index, search Legacy.com with approximate date ranges, or check with the South Dakota State Historical Society’s newspaper directory to identify which publications covered specific communities during particular time periods.