Losing someone in the Salt Lake Valley is a heavy experience, and honestly, the logistics that follow can feel like a blur. Between picking a casket and figuring out which flowers won't wilt in the Utah wind, you've got to decide how to tell the world they're gone. For a huge chunk of families in the Beehive State, that means looking at Deseret News obituaries Salt Lake City as the primary way to mark a life.
It's not just about a name in a column. It’s about that final, public "thank you" to a grandma who made the best funeral potatoes or a dad who spent forty years working at Kennecott.
Why the Deseret News is Still the "Gold Standard" in Utah
In a world where everything is moving to 15-second TikToks, you might think the local paper is a relic. You’d be wrong. In Salt Lake City, the Deseret News—founded back in 1850—is basically the historical record of the Intermountain West. When you place a notice there, you aren't just buying space; you're putting a permanent stake in Utah’s history.
Most people don't realize that the Deseret News doesn't even print daily anymore. They switched to a weekly and semi-weekly print schedule back in 2021, but their obituary section is actually one of their most-visited pages online. It’s weird, but in a tight-knit community like this, people still "check the obits" as part of their morning routine.
The Legacy.com Connection
If you search for a loved one, you’ll likely end up on a Legacy.com page. The Deseret News partners with them to host these digital memorials. This is actually a win for families because it means the guestbook stays open for a year (and usually forever in a "read-only" mode), allowing cousins from Idaho or friends from back East to leave a note without having to mail a physical card.
What it Actually Costs (No Sugaring it Over)
Let’s talk money. Death is expensive, and newspaper space isn't free. As of early 2026, the pricing for a Deseret News obituary usually starts around $275. That’s the "bare bones" version—usually a photo and about five lines of text.
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If your loved one had a long, colorful life and you want to tell the whole story, that price climbs fast. Each additional line of text usually runs you about $4. Most families end up spending between $400 and $700 once they include the funeral details, a second photo (maybe a "younger" version and a "recent" one), and a few paragraphs of biography.
- Pro Tip: If you run the ad for multiple days, the second day is often 50% off.
- The Surcharge: Be aware there is a 3% credit card surcharge. It’s annoying, but it’s the standard now.
Deadlines You Can’t Miss
In Salt Lake City, timing is everything, especially with the weird print schedules. The Deseret News currently prints on Wednesdays and Fridays.
- For Wednesday print: You need to have everything submitted by Tuesday at 12:00 PM (Noon) MST.
- For Friday print: The cutoff is Thursday at 12:00 PM (Noon) MST.
If you miss that noon window by even ten minutes, you’re usually out of luck until the next cycle. Most local funeral homes (like Larkin, Wasatch Lawn, or McDougal) will handle the submission for you, which I highly recommend. They know the formatting and they can usually bill it through the funeral expenses so you aren't digging for a credit card while you're grieving.
How to Find an Old Obituary in Salt Lake City
Maybe you aren't placing an ad; maybe you’re doing genealogy. My grandpa used to spend hours at the FamilySearch Library downtown, but honestly, you can do most of this from your couch now.
For Recent Deaths (1990 to Today)
The easiest way is the Deseret News website or Legacy.com. You can filter by name and date. If the person passed away in the last 30 years, it’s almost certainly indexed and searchable by Google.
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For the Deep History (1850 to 1970)
This is where it gets cool. There is a massive "Obituary Index File" that covers both the Deseret News and the Salt Lake Tribune from the pioneer days up to 1970. You can find these on microfilm at the Salt Lake Public Library or through the FamilySearch Catalog.
GenealogyBank is another heavy hitter here. They have high-quality scans of the actual newspaper pages, which is better than just a text transcript because you can see the original photos and even the surrounding news of that day. It gives you a sense of what the world looked like when your ancestor passed.
Writing the "Human" Way
The best Deseret News obituaries Salt Lake City has ever seen aren't the ones that list every single award someone won. They're the ones that mention his obsession with the Utah Jazz or how she always kept a stash of Andes mints in her purse for the grandkids.
Don't feel like you have to be formal. If they were a bit of a rebel, say so! The community loves reading those "real" stories. It makes the person feel alive one last time on the page.
The "Better with Age" Newsletter
One interesting thing the paper does now is a newsletter called "Better with Age." They actually spotlight certain tributes from the week. It’s a way to ensure that even people who don't have time to browse the full list might see a beautiful story about a neighbor they haven't talked to in years.
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The Comparison: Deseret News vs. Salt Lake Tribune
People often ask which one they should choose. Honestly, it depends on who you're trying to reach.
Historically, the Deseret News has a massive reach within the LDS community and more conservative circles. The Salt Lake Tribune tends to reach a more secular or "independent" audience. However, since they ended their joint operating agreement (JOA) a few years back, they are completely separate entities. If you want everyone in the valley to know, you unfortunately have to pay for both. But if you have to pick one, the Deseret News' digital reach in Utah remains incredibly dominant.
Actionable Next Steps for Families:
- Check the "In Memoriam" Option: If you can't afford a full obituary right now, consider an "In Memoriam" on the anniversary of the death. These start much cheaper (around $114) and are a beautiful way to keep the memory alive.
- Draft Offline First: Write your draft in a Word doc or Google Doc before using the submission portal. The portal can be glitchy, and you don't want to lose your work halfway through.
- Use High-Res Photos: The Deseret News prints in color now. That old polaroid might look okay on your phone, but it’ll look grainy in print. Scan it at a high resolution if possible.
- Coordinate with the Mortuary: Before you click "submit" yourself, ask your funeral director if they get a professional discount. Sometimes they can save you 10-15% just by submitting it through their portal.
At the end of the day, an obituary is the first draft of family history. Whether it's a short notice or a long-form tribute, it's about making sure the name of a Salt Lake City local isn't forgotten.