Death is expensive. It's also loud, quiet, messy, and deeply personal. In Utah, specifically around the Wasatch Front, there is a very specific way we talk about it. If you grew up here, you know the drill. You open the Sunday paper—or more likely now, you click a link sent by an aunt—and you look for that one specific name.
Obituaries Salt Lake City Utah Deseret News remains one of the most searched phrases for anyone trying to track down a lost friend or verify a family legend. But honestly, it’s about more than just a date of death. It's about a cultural record.
The Search for a Story
Finding a recent notice is pretty straightforward. Most people just head to the Deseret News website or their partner portal at Legacy.com. If you’re looking for someone who passed away last Tuesday, you'll see a list. Names, ages, and maybe a small thumbnail photo.
But what if you're looking for someone from 1924? Or 1880?
That's where things get interesting. The Deseret News has been printing since 1850. That is a massive amount of ink. For genealogists, this archive is basically a gold mine. You aren't just getting a "died on this day" notification. You're getting the names of the pioneer companies they crossed the plains with. You’re finding out they were the first person to own a dry goods store in Sugar House.
Where to Look for Old Records
If the digital search on the main site isn't giving you what you need, you've got to go deeper.
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- FamilySearch: Since they’re based in Salt Lake, they have an incredible microfilm index of Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune obits from 1850 to 1970.
- Utah Digital Newspapers: This is a free project. It’s a bit clunky sometimes, but it lets you see the actual scanned pages.
- GenealogyBank: Usually requires a subscription, but they have a lot of the mid-20th-century stuff digitized and searchable by keyword.
The Cost of Saying Goodbye
Kinda shocking to some, but running a tribute isn't cheap. I looked into the current 2026 rates, and for the Deseret News, a basic obituary starts around $275. That gets you a couple of photos and five lines of text.
Each extra line? That’s another $4.
If you want to run it for multiple days, they usually give you 50% off the second day. Most families choose to run the full text on a Wednesday or Friday because those are the big print days. People still like the physical paper. They want something they can cut out and put in a scrapbook or mail to a cousin in Idaho.
Why the Deseret News is Different
In Salt Lake City, the "Deseret" name carries a specific weight. It’s owned by the Deseret Management Corporation, which is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because of that, the obituaries often reflect a very specific "Utah" style.
You’ll see mentions of ward callings, mission locations (from "London South" to "Brazil North"), and temple marriages. It’s a shorthand. If you see "graduated from BYU" and "served in the Chilean mission," you already know a huge chunk of that person’s social circle and worldview.
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But it’s changing. Salt Lake is way more diverse than it was twenty years ago. You’re seeing more secular tributes, more varied religious traditions, and honestly, more creative writing. Some people are writing their own obituaries before they go, and they are hilarious. I saw one recently that spent three paragraphs complaining about the Utah Jazz’s defensive strategy before even mentioning his grandkids.
How to Submit a Notice
If you're the one in charge of the paperwork, you've probably got enough on your plate. Most funeral homes in Salt Lake—places like Larkin, Wasatch Lawn, or Neil O'Donnell—will handle the submission for you. They have the templates. They know the deadlines (usually noon the day before publication).
If you’re doing it yourself, here’s the reality check:
- Deadlines are strict. Miss noon on Tuesday, and you aren't getting in Wednesday's paper.
- Photos matter. Use a high-resolution one. The newsprint is going to grain it up anyway, so don't start with a blurry cell phone shot from 2009.
- Check the spelling. The paper doesn't proofread your aunt’s name for you. If you spell it "Kathy" instead of "Kathie," it stays that way forever.
The Digital Legacy
One thing the Deseret News does well is the online Guest Book. When an obit goes live, it stays on Legacy.com indefinitely. People can "light a candle" or leave a comment.
I’ve seen Guest Books stay active for years. On the anniversary of a death, a daughter might post a photo of a birthday cake they made in their mom's honor. It turns a static piece of news into a living archive.
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The "Better with Age" newsletter also occasionally spotlights these lives. It’s a weekly email that rounds up community stories and, sometimes, heartfelt tributes to locals who lived particularly long or impactful lives. It's a nice touch in a world that usually moves on to the next headline in five minutes.
Finding What You Need Right Now
If you are currently searching for obituaries salt lake city utah deseret news, start at the official obituary page. You can sort by name or date. If the name isn't showing up, try searching just the last name and "Salt Lake City" to account for any typos in the first name.
Sometimes, if a death was very recent, the funeral home will have the info on their own site before the newspaper publishes it. Check the websites of major local mortuaries if the newspaper search comes up empty.
Next Steps for You:
If you are doing genealogy, head over to the FamilySearch Library on West Temple. They have physical copies and digital databases that go far beyond what a Google search can provide. If you're looking to place an ad, contact the Deseret News Media Law desk directly to get a quote on your specific word count. This avoids the "surprise" bill after you've already written a 1,000-word masterpiece.