Losing someone is heavy. It's a weight that doesn't just sit on your chest; it complicates every single task you try to complete, from picking out a suit to figuring out how to let the world know they're gone. If you're looking for an Idaho State Journal obituary, you're likely in the thick of that haze. Or maybe you're a family historian, digging through the digital archives of Southeast Idaho to find a trace of a great-grandfather who worked the rail lines in Pocatello.
Either way, there is a right way and a very frustrating way to go about this.
The Idaho State Journal has been the heartbeat of the Gate City since 1949, though its roots through predecessor papers go back much further. It’s the primary record for Bannock County. But here’s the thing: finding a recent notice versus finding a yellowed clipping from 1974 requires two completely different skill sets. People often assume a quick Google search handles it all. It doesn’t.
Why the Idaho State Journal Obituary process feels broken (but isn't)
Most folks get frustrated because they expect a seamless, free archive of every soul who ever passed through Southeast Idaho. Reality is a bit crunchier. Like most local newspapers owned by larger media conglomerates—in this case, Adams Publishing Group—the Journal has a specific ecosystem for its death notices and long-form obituaries.
There's a distinction you need to understand right away.
A "death notice" is usually a tiny, bare-bones blurb. It says the name, the age, and the date of passing. It’s often free or very cheap. An "obituary," however, is a biographical tribute. It’s where you mention that Grandma loved her sourdough starter more than most of her grandkids, or that Dad never missed a Bengals game at Holt Arena. These are paid advertisements. If a family chooses not to pay for one, you won't find it in the Idaho State Journal obituary section, no matter how hard you scrub the internet.
Searching the Digital Archive: Tips from the Trenches
If you’re looking for someone who passed away in the last decade, your first stop is the Journal’s official website. But don't just type a name and hit enter.
Search engines are finicky.
If you’re looking for "Robert Smith," you’re going to get thousands of hits. Try using quotation marks—"Robert Smith"—to force the engine to look for that exact string. If you know the year, add it. Better yet, use the Legacy.com portal that the Journal uses. Most modern newspapers outsource their obituary hosting to Legacy or Tributes.com.
Why does this matter? Because Legacy allows you to set "Obituary Alerts." If you’re waiting for a specific notice to be posted for a distant relative, you can have the system email you the second it goes live. It saves you from refreshing a browser tab every three hours while you’re trying to grieve.
The "Pocatello Factor" and Local Nuance
Pocatello is a unique place. It’s a junction. Because of Idaho State University and the medical hubs here, people move in and out of the area constantly.
When searching an Idaho State Journal obituary, remember that the person might not be listed under Pocatello. Check for surrounding towns like Chubbuck, Blackfoot, American Falls, or even McCammon. Often, the Journal serves as the "big city" paper for these smaller communities. If you can't find a record in the ISJ, it’s worth checking the Morning News in Blackfoot. Sometimes families split the difference or choose the paper closer to the childhood home rather than the place of death.
Digging into the Past: Genealogy and Microfilm
Now, if you’re doing genealogy, the digital search is probably going to fail you once you hit the 1990s.
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The internet wasn't always the "forever" record we think it is. For anything older, you’re going to have to go analog or use specialized databases. The Marshall Public Library in Pocatello is your best friend here. They hold the microfilm.
Honestly, there is something incredibly grounding about sitting in a quiet library, cranking a microfilm reader, and seeing the actual layout of the paper from the day your ancestor was memorialized. You see the grocery ads (20 cents for a gallon of milk!), the local sports scores, and finally, the obituary. It provides context that a digitized text string simply can't.
- The Idaho State Archives: Located in Boise, but they hold records for the entire state.
- FamilySearch: Since Idaho has a high population of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the genealogical records in this region are some of the best in the world. Many ISJ obituaries have been transcribed by volunteers here.
- Find A Grave: Don't underestimate this. Often, a volunteer will take a photo of the physical Idaho State Journal obituary and upload it directly to the person's memorial page.
How to Write an Obituary for the Journal
If you are the one tasked with writing, the pressure can feel immense. You’re summarizing a life in 400 words.
Keep it human.
The Idaho State Journal charges by the line or by the inch, depending on current policies. It gets expensive fast. To save money without losing the soul of the piece, avoid "flower language." Instead of saying "He was a man who loved the outdoors and found peace in the mountains," say "He hiked the City of Rocks every June." Specificity is more memorable and usually shorter.
Make sure you include the "vital stats" early:
- Full name (including nicknames).
- Date and place of birth.
- Parents' names.
- Education and military service (especially important in a vet-heavy area like Southeast Idaho).
- Significant career milestones.
Don't forget the service details. This is the most common mistake. People get so caught up in the life story that they forget to mention the viewing is at Manning-Wheatley or Cornelison Funeral Home on Tuesday at 11:00 AM.
The Cost Factor
Let's be real: newspapers are struggling, and obituary prices have climbed. An Idaho State Journal obituary can run several hundred dollars. If that’s not in the budget, you have options. You can run a "Death Notice" (the bare essentials) in the paper to meet the legal or public record "requirement" and then host a full, beautiful tribute on a free site or social media.
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However, there is a prestige and a sense of "finality" to having it in the Journal. It’s the record of record. Decades from now, that's what will be on the microfilm.
Dealing with the "Paywall" Frustration
It’s a common complaint. "I just want to read my uncle's obit, why do I have to pay for a subscription?"
Usually, obituaries on the Journal’s website are outside the strict paywall, but the site can be heavy with ads. If you’re hitting a wall, try accessing the site through a "private" or "incognito" browser window. Or, check the funeral home’s website. Almost every funeral home in the Pocatello/Chubbuck area (Wilks, Manning-Wheatley, etc.) posts the full obituary on their own site for free. It’s the exact same text that appears in the paper.
Why We Still Look for Them
In an age of instant social media updates, the Idaho State Journal obituary remains a staple of Idaho life. It’s about community. In a town where you probably know your mailman and your kid’s teacher, the obituary section is how we keep track of the fabric of the city. We look for the names of our high school teachers, our former coworkers at the FMC plant, or the lady who ran the corner store.
It’s not just about death; it’s about acknowledging that someone was here.
Practical Next Steps for Your Search
If you are currently looking for a record, follow this specific order to save time:
- Check the Funeral Home Website first. If the death was in the last 5 years, this is the fastest, free-est way to get the full story.
- Use Legacy.com. Filter by "Idaho State Journal" and the person's name. Use the "Year" filter to narrow it down if the name is common.
- Contact the Marshall Public Library. If you are looking for a historical record (pre-2000), their reference librarians are experts at navigating the ISJ archives.
- Check the Idaho State Journal's own "Obituaries" tab. Be prepared for some pop-up ads, but this is the primary source.
- Verify with Find A Grave. Even if there isn't an obit, the headstone information can give you the exact dates you need to then go back and search the paper archives more accurately.
Remember, the information is out there. It might be buried under a few layers of digital dust or tucked away on a reel of 35mm film, but the record of a life lived in Southeast Idaho doesn't just vanish. You just have to know which tool to pick up first.
Actionable Insights for the Bereaved and Researchers
- For Families: When submitting to the ISJ, ask about "multi-day" discounts. Sometimes running the ad on Sunday and Wednesday is cheaper than you'd think compared to a single-day run.
- For Researchers: Always look for "Maiden Names." The ISJ archives are filled with women listed only by their husband's initials (e.g., "Mrs. J.W. Anderson") in older editions. If a direct name search fails, search for the husband or the parents.
- For the Community: If you see an obituary that moves you, use the online "Guest Book" usually attached to the ISJ/Legacy link. Those comments are often archived and given to the family as a book later on, providing comfort long after the funeral flowers have wilted.