Losing someone in a place like Great Falls isn't just about a name in a newspaper. It’s about the person who used to grab a coffee at Crooked Tree or the neighbor you always saw at the Farmers Market on Saturdays. If you’re looking for obits Great Falls MT, you’ve probably realized pretty quickly that finding a recent notice isn't as straightforward as it used to be.
It kinda feels like a scavenger hunt now.
You’d think you could just Google a name and have the full life story pop up instantly. Sometimes it does. Often, it doesn't.
Since the digital shift, the way our community records its history has fractured. You have the legacy publications, the funeral home sites, and then the social media "word of mouth" that travels faster than any official notice. Honestly, if you don't know exactly where to look, you might miss the service details entirely.
The Great Falls Tribune and the Paywall Reality
For decades, the Great Falls Tribune was the gold standard. You opened the paper, turned to the back, and there they were.
Today? It’s complicated.
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The Tribune still publishes obituaries, but they are often hosted through Legacy.com. While this makes them searchable globally, it also means they can be buried under ads or stuck behind a subscription requirement if you’re trying to read the full digital replica of the paper.
Pro tip: If you are hit with a paywall on the main site, try searching the name directly on Legacy.com first. Many times, the basic text of the obituary is accessible there even if the Tribune’s specific portal is acting up.
Also, keep in mind that the cost to place an obituary in the Tribune has climbed. Because of this, some families are opting for shorter "death notices"—just the bare essentials—while putting the full, beautiful life story elsewhere.
Where the Real Stories Are: Local Funeral Homes
If you’re looking for a specific person and the newspaper isn't helping, go straight to the source. Great Falls has a few "big" names in the funeral industry, and their websites are actually way more reliable for current info than the major search engines.
Schnider Funeral Home
Located on 13th St S, Schnider’s is a staple. Their "Recent Obituaries" section is updated almost daily. What’s cool about their site is that they often include a "Watch Live" link for services. If you’re stuck out of town or can’t make it to the chapel, this is a lifesaver.
Croxford Funeral Home & Crematory
Croxford has been around for over 85 years. Their obituary pages are very clean and easy to navigate. You’ll find people like Rose Mary Sangrey or Bridger Phillips listed there with full photos and guestbooks. If the service is in the Rose Room Chapel, the details will be pinned right at the top of their page.
O’Connor Funeral Home
O’Connor is another heavy hitter on 8th Avenue North. They’ve been serving the Electric City since 1911. Their site is great because it often lists the specific "visitation" hours which sometimes get left out of the shorter newspaper blurbs.
Finding the Old Stuff: Genealogy and Archives
Maybe you aren't looking for someone who passed away last week. Maybe you're digging into your family tree and need an obit from 1954.
That’s a whole different ballgame.
For historical obits Great Falls MT, your best bet isn't a random Google search. You need the Great Falls Genealogy Society. They are located on the third floor of the Great Falls Public Library.
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They have microfilm. Yes, the old-school stuff.
They also have a massive index of burials for Cascade County. If you can't make it there in person, GenealogyBank or Newspapers.com are the digital alternatives. Just a heads-up: Great Falls records are a bit spotty in the very early 1900s, so you might have to cross-reference death certificates from the Cascade County Clerk & Recorder’s office.
The Social Media "Obit"
We have to talk about Facebook.
In Great Falls, a lot of the immediate news of a passing happens in local groups or on personal profiles long before an official obituary is written. This is both a blessing and a curse.
It’s a blessing because you find out quickly.
It’s a curse because the details are often wrong.
Someone will post that a service is on Tuesday, but the funeral home is actually planning it for Wednesday. Always, always verify the "social media news" against the official funeral home website.
How to Actually Use This Information
If you are currently looking for information or trying to honor someone, here is the most efficient way to do it without losing your mind:
- Start with the Funeral Home: Check Schnider, Croxford, or O’Connor first. 90% of the time, the info is there and it’s free to read.
- Use the Library: For anything older than 20 years, the Great Falls Public Library is your HQ. Don't pay for an expensive archive site until you've seen what they have for free.
- Check the Tribune/Legacy: Use this for out-of-town relatives who need to find the "official" guestbook to leave a comment.
- Verify the Service: If you see a time on Facebook, call the funeral home or check their official site. Mistakes happen during grief, and you don't want to show up at the wrong time.
Great Falls is a tight-knit place. Even as things move online, the goal of an obituary remains the same: making sure a life lived in the shadow of the Big Sky is remembered.
To get started with your search right now, the most reliable step is to visit the websites of the three major local funeral homes—Schnider, Croxford, or O'Connor—as they host the most complete and up-to-date records for the Great Falls area.