Finding a specific tribute in the local paper shouldn't feel like a chore, but honestly, it often does. If you’re looking for obituaries for Midland Daily News Michigan, you’ve probably realized that a simple Google search sometimes throws a lot of junk your way. You get national aggregate sites that want a subscription before they show you a single name. It’s frustrating.
Midland is a tight-knit place. Whether you’re checking for a neighbor who lived over on Sugnet Road or you’re doing deep-dive genealogy on a family name from the 1940s, the Midland Daily News (MDN) remains the "paper of record" here. But the way you find these records depends entirely on how far back you're looking.
Why Finding Obituaries for Midland Daily News Michigan is Kinda Tricky
Most people think everything is online now. It isn't. If you are looking for someone who passed away in, say, 1974, you aren't going to find a neat digital page with a "Share to Facebook" button. You’re going to be looking at microfilm or a printed index.
For anything recent—basically the last 20 years—the partnership between the Midland Daily News and Legacy.com is your best bet. It’s where the "live" data lives. You can search by name, date, or even keywords like "Dow Chemical" if you're trying to find former colleagues.
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The Quick Reality Check
- Recent deaths (2000s–Present): Use the MDN website or Legacy.
- Mid-range (1930s–1990s): The Grace A. Dow Memorial Library is your savior.
- Ancient history (1870s–1920s): You’ll be looking for the Midland Republican or Midland Sun.
I’ve spent hours in the library archives, and I can tell you, the paper changed names a few times before settling on the Midland Daily News in 1937. If you're looking for an ancestor from 1910 and searching for "Midland Daily News," you won't find them. You have to look for the Midland Republican records instead.
How to Search the Archives (Without Losing Your Mind)
If you're doing this for a legal reason or family tree, you need the actual text. The Grace A. Dow Memorial Library in Midland has a massive digital index. It doesn't always show the full obituary image, but it tells you the exact date and page number.
Basically, you go to their "Midland Daily News Index" online. You type in a last name. It gives you a citation. Once you have that citation, you can head to the library or contact them to pull the microfilm. It sounds old school, but it’s the only way to be 100% sure about the facts.
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Tips for a better search
- Check for nicknames. Seriously. My grandfather was "William" on his birth certificate but "Bill" in the paper.
- Watch the spelling. Transcription errors happen. If "Smyth" isn't showing up, try "Smith."
- Maiden names. In older Midland obits, women were often listed as "Mrs. John Doe." It’s annoying, but searching for the husband's name is sometimes the only way to find the wife's tribute.
The Cost of Saying Goodbye
Let's talk about the business side because people always ask: "How much does it cost to put an obituary in the Midland Daily News?"
It isn't cheap. As of 2026, prices for a basic notice start around $33.75, but that’s just for the bare bones. If you want a photo—which most people do—and a longer story about their life, you’re looking at significantly more. The price scales based on word count and how many days it runs in the physical paper.
Most local funeral homes, like Smith-Miner or Ware-Smith-Woolever, handle the submission for you. They have a portal. They know the deadlines (usually by 2:00 PM the day before publication). If you're doing it yourself, you have to go through the MDN self-service tool or call their customer service.
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Why Local Records Matter More Than Ever
In a world where everyone has a social media profile, you might wonder why the Midland Daily News obituaries still matter.
They are legal records. They serve as a permanent archive for the state of Michigan. When someone passes, the obituary often acts as the "final word" on their survivors, their service at Dow, or their involvement in local churches like St. Brigid or Memorial Presbyterian.
I’ve noticed that local obits are also including more "living" details lately. Instead of just a list of names, people are writing about their loved one's favorite fishing spot on the Tittabawassee River or their prize-winning garden. It makes the archives a lot more interesting to read fifty years later.
Actionable Steps for Your Search
If you need to find an obituary right now, follow this sequence to save time:
- Step 1: Go to the official Midland Daily News website and click the "Obituaries" tab. This covers anything from the last few weeks.
- Step 2: If it’s from 1-2 years ago, use the Legacy.com search tool specifically filtered for Midland, MI.
- Step 3: For anything older than 2002, use the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library’s online Newspaper Index. This is a free tool that gives you the "map" to the microfilm.
- Step 4: If you are out of town and need a copy of an old obit, email the library’s reference desk. They are usually great about scanning a page for a small fee if you have the exact date.
- Step 5: Check the "Throwback" section of the MDN. Sometimes they reprint older stories or mentions of prominent citizens, which can lead you to an obituary date you didn't have before.
Knowing where to look saves you from the "subscription trap" of big genealogy sites. Start with the local library and the paper's own digital portal first. It’s faster and, usually, much more accurate.