I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
—Psalm 34:4
How To Write An Obituary
Writing an obituary is both a great honor — and a great responsibility.
When you are asked to write an obituary, you’re creating something that will reach far beyond today. It will be read by family and friends who knew your loved one best, as well as by others in the community who wish to remember and pay their respects. Your words will live on — printed in newspapers and shared online for years to come. For many families, an obituary becomes one of the most meaningful and enduring pieces of writing they’ll ever create.
Yet, despite its importance, most people who are called upon to compose an obituary are understandably unsure where to begin. While there are many resources available today, few provide truly practical, easy-to-follow guidance for someone writing one for the first time.
To help, Stevenson & Sons has prepared this guide — Complete Instructions on How to Write an Obituary (with Examples) — designed to offer clear, practical support that’s simple to understand and easy to use. Examples are provided where appropriate to help you along the way. Please note that not every section of the guide needs to be included in your obituary. If all steps are followed, the result will be a detailed and exceptional tribute. However, many obituaries must be shorter due to time constraints or limited information from earlier years.
In short: include whatever details you can. Every word you share helps honor a life well lived and preserves their memory for generations to come.
Complete Instructions on How to Write an Obituary – with examples
You may download the entire set of illustrated instructions with examples as a PDF by clicking HERE – then save it as a document to your computer for future reference or you may simply read it or print it out.
Service of Remembrance in Butte, Montana
6 P.M., Thursday, November 20, 2025
Butte Country Club, 3400 Elizabeth Warren Ave, Butte
Event Details:
• Special words from Silver Bow County Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher
• Slideshow honoring all those we have lost, with roll call
• Candle Lighting Ceremony
• Selections by nationally acclaimed Threshold Choir and local live musicians
• Hot chocolate bar with light refreshments
Learn more on the Axelson Funeral Home website >
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Tree of Remembrance and Holiday Open House in Sidney, Montana
Friday, December 12 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Fulkerson Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Sidney, Montana
Event Details:
• Tree of Remembrance and Holiday Open House
• Ornaments available for decoration
• Refreshments
• Special tribute video to all our 2025 loved ones.
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4th Annual Service of Remembrance in Anaconda, Montana
Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 6pm
Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home Chapel at 107 Oak St., Anaconda, MT
Event Details:
• Bring an ornament to hang on our Tree of Remembrance
• Memorial Slideshow – please send a photo of your loved one to info@anacondafuneralhome.com by November 6th.
• If you wish, bring a unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.
• No RSVP needed.
Stepping Up To Help
A big thank you to our Funeral Director, Kurt Baade, for stepping up to help a Williams County Sheriff during a recent incident in Williston. We’re proud of his quick action and dedication to helping others — both on and off the job!
In Honor of Our Fallen
For the first time in over a century, the Franzen-Davis team proudly joined the Livingston July 4th Parade — and we’re honored to have brought home 2nd place in the Patriotic category!
GriefShare® — Daily Emails
When a loved one dies, grieving that loss can take a long time, but you are not alone. GriefShare is here with support groups, and now daily emails, that provide encouragement and reminders of the recovery process. Sign up here.
Planning Ahead
More and more people are realizing the many advantages of prearranging their funerals. The process is simple, and the benefits to the loved ones who are left to handle the arrangements are very well recognized and appreciated. To accommodate the growing need for professional pre-planning support, we provide highly trained and experienced Pre-Need Counselors at Stevenson & Sons:
Lynn Anderson in Miles City, Montana • 406-232-4457
Shera Konen in Butte, Montana • 406-494-4264
Steve Pearce in Williston, North Dakota • 701-572-6329
Some of the benefits of prearranging are:
Pre-planning allows you to express your own wishes • It means that your loved ones will not have to make a number of important decisions during a time of mourning • Your funeral plan is transferable, in case you move away • It relieves your family of the financial burden • It allows your loved ones to spend their time comforting each other during a time of grief, instead of concerning themselves with the specifics of the arrangements • When pre-planning, there are both guaranteed and non-guaranteed plans available to choose from • It allows you the opportunity to discuss your final arrangements with family members to ensure clarity, and to ensure that those responsible are comfortable with all of your decisions.
If you’d like to know more, we recommend visiting: https://www.whypreplan.org/
Funeral Planning Aid
We frequently receive questions regarding what the person responsible for making funeral arrangements should expect. Since we’ve received so many requests for this information, we are placing a link which allows our newsletter subscribers to download a complete copy of our Funeral Planning Aid. The informative article is presented as a PDF – simply click the PDF Button below to access it. That way, if you wish, you may keep it on your computer for future reference or sharing with others. If after you read the article, you have any questions, please contact one of our pre-planning professionals: Lynn Anderson in Miles City, Montana at 406-232-4457 • Shera Konen, Butte, Montana at 406-494-4264 • Steve Pearce Williston, North Dakota at 701-572-6329. To download the Funeral Planning aid PDF CLICK HERE.
Who’s eligible for Military Funeral Honors?
- Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
- Former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
How to establish veteran eligibility
Submit the DD Form 214. The DD Form 214 may be obtained by filing a completed Standard Form 180 with: National Personnel Records Center(NPRC) • 9700 Page Blvd. • St. Louis, MO 63132. The Standard Form 180 may be obtained from: http://www.archives.gov/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf
Headstones for Veterans
For complete information and ordering, please visit: Legislative Changes Concerning Eligibility for Headstones, Markers and Medallions – National Cemetery Administration (va.gov)
Supporting Others
If you know someone who would benefit from the uplifting messages and support information we provide in these monthly newsletters, they can sign up to receive their own copy here. It’s a great way to lend your support to a friend or a family member.
