Finding a specific name in the scottsbluff star herald obituaries today isn't always as simple as hitting a "search" button and walking away. Honestly, if you've ever tried to track down a notice for a friend or a distant relative in Western Nebraska, you know it can feel like a digital maze. The Star-Herald has been around since 1912, and while it's the heartbeat of the Panhandle, the way we read these tributes has changed a lot.
Just this morning, January 13, 2026, several families are sharing the lives of their loved ones. One notice that stands out is for Doris Jean Weitzel, who passed away at 90. Her life story is a classic Mitchell, Nebraska tale—full of community and family. Her service is actually set for later this week at The Vine United Methodist Church. It’s these kinds of details—the specific church, the memorial fund for a local cause—that make the daily obits so much more than just a list of names.
Why the Scottsbluff Star Herald Obituaries Today Matter More Than You Think
A lot of people think obituaries are just for "old folks" or those who still get the paper tossed on their driveway. They're wrong. In a tight-knit place like Scotts Bluff County, the obituary section is basically the community's shared diary. It’s where you find out that your middle school teacher passed away or that a local veteran finally went to rest.
The Star-Herald, owned by Lee Enterprises, has shifted its schedule over the years. They currently publish print editions on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. This means if you're looking for a physical paper "today" and it happens to be a Monday or Wednesday, you might be out of luck at the newsstand. But the digital side? That’s 24/7.
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Real-Time Updates vs. The Print Cycle
Since the paper moved its printing operations to Rapid City a while back, the "today" in scottsbluff star herald obituaries today mostly lives online. Legacy.com handles a huge chunk of this. If a family submits a notice on a Monday, it might pop up on the website hours before the Tuesday print edition even hits the mailboxes.
Here is what is currently trending or recently posted as of mid-January 2026:
- Doris Jean Weitzel (90, Mitchell) - Services on Jan 15.
- Viola Arvilla Bulman (92, Gering) - A long-life well-lived in the valley.
- Larry Eirich - Originally from Bayard, showing how the paper tracks locals even after they move to places like Colorado.
- Fay Joyce Holzworth - A reminder of the deep religious roots in the Ogallala and Scottsbluff area.
How to Find Who You’re Looking For (Without Losing Your Mind)
I’ve seen people get frustrated because they type a name into Google and nothing comes up. Usually, it's a spelling issue or a timing thing.
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- Check the Maiden Name. For women who lived in the Panhandle for decades, the Star-Herald often includes their maiden name in parentheses. If "Jane Smith" isn't showing up, try searching her birth name.
- Use the "Last 30 Days" Filter. Most people searching for scottsbluff star herald obituaries today are looking for someone recent. Don't waste time scrolling through 1990s archives on GenealogyBank unless you’re doing a family tree.
- Funeral Home Sites are Shortcuts. Sometimes the newspaper is the last to post. Places like Dugan-Kramer, Bridgman Funeral Home, or Jones Mortuary in Mitchell often post the full text on their own sites first. If you’re in a hurry to find service times, go to the source.
The Cost of Saying Goodbye
It’s expensive to die. Kinda blunt, but true. To place a full obituary in the Star-Herald today, families are usually looking at a starting price around $75 to $99. That usually covers the basics. If you want a photo—and who doesn't want to see their loved one's face?—that often adds another $50 per image.
The "Death Notice" is the cheaper route. It’s basically just the facts: name, age, date of death, and service time. It’s short, usually under 40 words. While it lacks the "human-quality" story of a full obit, it gets the job done for those on a tight budget.
More Than Just Names: The Historical Value
The Star-Herald is a goldmine for history buffs. Because it merged the Scottsbluff Herald and the Mitchell Star over a century ago, the archives are incredibly deep. If you go back to the 1920s or 30s, the obituaries were much more floral. They’d talk about the "pale horse of death" or "departing this earthly vale." Today, we’re more direct, focusing on hobbies like Husker football, quilting, or years spent working at the sugar factory.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming "Daily" means "Every Day": Remember the Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday print schedule.
- Searching Only the Website: Sometimes the "E-Edition" (the digital replica of the paper) has notices that the main website's search engine hasn't indexed yet.
- Forgetting the Neighbors: People in Gering or Terrytown might be listed under Scottsbluff, so broaden your search radius.
Actionable Steps for Finding Information Now
If you are looking for someone specific in the scottsbluff star herald obituaries today, follow this sequence to save time:
- Step 1: Go directly to the Star-Herald’s Legacy portal. It’s updated more frequently than the main news landing page.
- Step 2: If the name isn't there, check the websites of Dugan-Kramer or Bridgman Funeral Home. They handle a massive percentage of local services.
- Step 3: Check the Star-Herald Facebook page. Often, the community will share links to recent deaths before they are fully formatted on the web.
- Step 4: For older records (pre-2000), use the Scottsbluff Public Library’s microfilm or the "Legacy of the Plains" museum resources. They have the stuff that isn't on the internet yet.
Keeping up with these notices is a way of staying connected to the Panhandle. Whether it's checking for a neighbor or researching a family legacy, the records are there—you just have to know which digital door to knock on.
To find the most recent listings, go to the official Star-Herald obituary page and filter by "Most Recent" to see the notices for Jan 13 and the preceding weekend.