How to Navigate the Argus Leader Obituary Process in Sioux Falls
The Argus Leader is the primary newspaper of record for Sioux Falls and the surrounding region in South Dakota. When someone dies in the area, their family typically chooses to publish an obituary there. The process is straightforward in theory, but the details matter if you are trying to get it done correctly and quickly. I have helped several people through the submission process over the years. One thing nobody tells you upfront is that the obituary desk has a hard cutoff time for same-day placement. If you miss it, your notice gets pushed to the next printing cycle. Last winter, a family friend of mine was calling from out of state at 3 PM and needed something published by evening. The deadline had passed. The workaround was simple but not advertised—contact the funeral home handling services and ask them to submit the text directly. Funeral directors have pre-arranged accounts and editorial shortcuts that the general public does not.
Sioux Falls Sd Argus Leader Obituaries Honoring Lives Navigating Grief In South Dakota
There are two main types of notices you can place: a standard death notice and a full obituary. A death notice is basically a factual announcement. It includes the name, age, date of death, surviving family members, and service information. These run for a flat fee and take up about two to three columns of text. A full obituary is a narrative piece. It can include biography, life achievements, anecdotes, and photos. You are charged per line or per inch, and the cost scales accordingly. Submission can be done online through the Argus Leader website or by phone. The online form asks for all the standard biographical data, a photo upload, and your preferred publication date. The phone option is faster if you are already on hold with a funeral director who is doing the submission for you. From my experience, the online portal can be glitchy with large image files. Keep your photo under 500 KB and use a JPEG format. I once watched someone spend forty minutes trying to upload a high-resolution wedding photo before it finally went through at a reduced size. Pricing varies depending on length and whether you include a photo. As of recent rates, a basic death notice runs roughly $75 to $150 depending on word count. A full obituary with a photo can range from $200 to $500 or more. These are estimates and the newspaper adjusts rates periodically, so confirm current pricing before you finalize anything. Payment is accepted by credit card, and you will receive a digital proof for approval before publication.
The proofs are important. Read them carefully. I have seen mistakes slip through—misspelled names, wrong dates, omitted surviving children. One common error is listing a deceased spouse without noting that they predeceased the person. It seems like a minor detail, but it matters to readers and family members. When reviewing the proof, check every name against your family records. If something is wrong, call the obituary desk immediately. Corrections before publication are usually handled within minutes. Corrections after publication require a separate notice and additional fees. Turnaround time is typically one to two business days for standard submissions. Rush placement is available for an additional charge and can sometimes get you into the next day's print edition. This is the route most families end up taking because the timeline between death and funeral services is often compressed. The funeral home can usually give you an accurate estimate of when the service will occur, which helps you lock in the publication date. There are limitations to be aware of. The Argus Leader serves the Sioux Falls metro area and parts of the surrounding Black Hills region. If your family members live in Rapid City, Pierre, or elsewhere in South Dakota, a local paper in those cities may also be worth considering. The reach of the Argus Leader does not extend far beyond the immediate area, so if you have a wide dispersal of relatives, supplementing with an online memorial or a statewide publication like the Pioneer Press in Rapid City makes sense.
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Another drawback is the cost structure for extended content. Once you go beyond a certain word count, the per-line charges add up quickly. A detailed obituary that runs eight or ten lines can easily exceed the initial quote. It is worth setting a budget limit with whoever is drafting the text, whether that is you, a family member, or the funeral director. The editor can usually condense content to fit within your price range without losing the essential information. For those navigating grief in South Dakota, the Argus Leader obituary section serves as both a public record and a community resource. People leave comments, share memories, and offer support. It is one of the few places where a local community gathers to acknowledge a loss in a tangible way. The newspaper also maintains an archive of past obituaries, which can be useful for genealogical research or for family members who want to revisit a notice years later. If you need to place an obituary, start by calling the Argus Leader obituary desk. They will walk you through the options and help you understand the costs. Have the deceased's full legal name, date of birth, date of death, and a list of immediate family members ready. A photocopy of the death certificate can help ensure accuracy. Bring a printed list of service details—time, date, location—and any photo you want included. Being organized before you pick up the phone or log on will save you considerable time and reduce the chance of errors.
