Search Obituary, Death and Burial Records by Name
Enter the person’s first name, last name and last known state to prepare an obituary, death, burial, cemetery, memorial and related public-record search.
Find Rochester Post Bulletin Obituaries, Death Notices & Funeral Links
The Post Bulletin publishes obituaries and death notices for Rochester and communities across southeastern Minnesota. Start with the newspaper’s live obituary section, then use the handling funeral home for the latest visitation, funeral, cemetery, livestream and memorial details.
Quick Answer: Where to Find Post Bulletin Recent Obituaries
Newest notice
Open the Post Bulletin’s official obituary section for current newspaper notices.
Final service details
Use the handling funeral home’s memorial page to confirm current arrangements.
Older obituary
Use Rochester Public Library or the History Center of Olmsted County for newspaper archives and indexes.
Legal proof
Use Olmsted County or Minnesota Vital Records when a certified death certificate is required.
How to Check Post Bulletin Recent Obituaries
The Post Bulletin maintains a dedicated obituary section at its official website. Individual entries can include a short death notice or a longer family-submitted obituary.
How to Search Post Bulletin Obituaries by Name
For a broader workflow, use our obituary search and recent notices guide.
Confirm the Correct Person Before Sharing a Notice
| Check | Why it matters | Pause when… |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Similar names may appear in Rochester and surrounding Minnesota communities. | Middle name, nickname or surname does not match. |
| Age / dates | Separates people with similar names and older archive results. | Age or death date is clearly different. |
| Relatives | Spouse, children, siblings and parents are useful identity clues. | Close relatives do not match. |
| Community | Post Bulletin coverage extends beyond Rochester into southeastern Minnesota. | The notice has no known geographic connection. |
| Funeral home | The handling provider usually has the latest service information. | The funeral home is unrelated to the person you are researching. |
| Publish date | Search engines can surface older obituaries ahead of recent ones. | The article is from the wrong year. |
Funeral Home Obituary Links for Rochester Notices
Post Bulletin notices may identify many funeral homes across southeastern Minnesota. When the person is from Rochester or nearby Olmsted County, these official obituary pages are useful starting points.
Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Homes
The official site provides current obituary search, individual memorial pages and obituary email updates.
Immediate assistance: 507-289-3600
Macken Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Macken provides a searchable Rochester obituary listing, individual memorials and obituary notifications.
Immediate assistance: 507-282-1075
What to Verify Before Attending a Funeral or Memorial
Exact time
Visitation, funeral, memorial service, Mass and graveside service can have separate times.
Exact address
The funeral home, church, reception and cemetery may be different locations.
Public or private
Do not assume every service is public. Read the family’s wording carefully.
Livestream
Use only a livestream provided by the funeral home, church or family-authorized memorial.
Flowers or donations
Follow the family’s stated preference and verify charities through their official websites.
Weather or changes
Call the funeral home when winter weather, travel or conflicting information could affect the schedule.
How to Place an Obituary in the Post Bulletin
The Post Bulletin obituary page provides both a Place an Obituary link and separate obituary guidelines. The current placement system opens through the publisher’s Column submission platform.
Prepare before starting
- Full legal name and preferred name or nickname.
- Date of birth and date of death, when the family wants them published.
- Approved obituary text.
- Photo you have permission to publish.
- Funeral, memorial or visitation details.
- Handling funeral-home information.
- Family-approved memorial donation instructions.
- Billing and contact information.
How to Get a Rochester Death Certificate
Olmsted County Vital Records can issue certified death certificates for people who died in Minnesota after 1997, subject to Minnesota’s tangible-interest requirements.
| Service | Current fee | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| First certified death certificate | $13 | Available through Minnesota vital-record offices when requester requirements are met. |
| Additional identical copy | $6 each | Additional copies must be ordered in the same transaction. |
| VA death certificate | $0 | For qualifying Veterans Administration purposes only. |
| Faster processing | $20 | Optional faster processing does not include express delivery. |
Olmsted County Vital Records
151 4th Street SE
Rochester, MN 55904
Office hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
What to do after opening the county page
What if the Death Happened Before 1997?
Need a certified record?
Olmsted County directs people seeking a certified record for an Olmsted County death before 1997 to the Minnesota Department of Health.
Need historical research?
For non-certified older Olmsted County death information, the county directs researchers to the History Center of Olmsted County.
How to Find Older Post Bulletin Obituaries
Rochester has unusually strong local newspaper resources. Use the option that best matches the date you already know.
| Resource | Coverage | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Post Bulletin website | Modern online obituaries | Search the person’s full name, then try quotes around the name. |
| RPL EBSCO | 2010-present | Text-only Post Bulletin searching through Rochester Public Library. |
| Newspapers.com at RPL | 1858-recent | Full newspaper pages; access is available inside Rochester Public Library. |
| RPL microfilm | Post Bulletin 1925-recent | Visit the second floor; library staff can help with microfilm readers. |
| History Center Personals Index | Post Bulletin obituaries 1984-2009 | Search by name to identify newspaper dates and pages. |
| History Center collections | Local newspapers 1859-present | Also includes funeral-home records, vital records, cemetery inscriptions and probate material. |
Rochester Public Library
101 2nd Street SE
Rochester, MN 55904
Main phone: 507-328-2300
Reference Desk: 507-328-2309
Hours:
Monday–Thursday: 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Friday–Sunday: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Microsteps for an older obituary
How to Verify a Funeral Home, Crematory or Mortician
Minnesota Department of Health Mortuary Science regulates funeral establishments, crematories, morticians, funeral directors and related providers.
Minnesota Funeral Price Rights Before You Pay
Minnesota law and the federal Funeral Rule require important price disclosures that help families compare funeral arrangements.
Price information by phone
Funeral providers must give price information over the telephone when you ask about goods or services.
General Price List
When discussing arrangements in person, the provider must give you a General Price List showing offered services and prices.
Itemized statement
After arrangements are selected, Minnesota requires a detailed statement of the funeral goods and services chosen.
No required cremation casket
A funeral provider cannot require the purchase of a traditional casket simply because cremation is selected.
Outside funeral goods
A provider cannot add a handling fee simply because a funeral good was purchased from another seller.
Prepaid arrangements
Minnesota has safeguards for prepaid funeral funds. Read trust, refund and transfer terms before prepaying.
Burial Assistance When There Are Not Enough Resources
Olmsted County states that when a person dies without adequate resources to cover final disposition, Minnesota law requires the county to assist under its burial-assistance process.
Olmsted County Burial Assistance
2117 Campus Drive SE
Rochester, MN 55904
Phone: 507-328-6273
Email: FSABurial@olmstedcounty.gov
How to use this local program
Olmsted County Veteran Burial Benefits
Olmsted County Veteran Services helps Veterans, dependents and survivors understand federal and Minnesota benefit options.
Olmsted County Veteran Services
2100 Campus Drive SE, Suite 200
Rochester, MN 55904
General phone: 507-328-6355
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Burial documents to locate
- DD-214 or discharge papers.
- Death certificate.
- Marriage certificate when a surviving spouse applies.
- Funeral-home statement or invoice.
- Photo identification.
Burial flag
Olmsted County says burial flags are normally coordinated through the funeral home. The Veterans office can help when no funeral home is involved.
Grave marker
Families can schedule an appointment with the county Veterans office for marker assistance.
$0 VA certificate
Minnesota currently lists a no-fee death certificate when it is requested specifically for qualifying Veterans Administration purposes.
Flowers, Donations, Guestbooks & Livestream Safety
Flowers
Use the family-authorized obituary or handling funeral-home page before ordering.
Memorial donations
Verify a named charity through its official website before entering payment information.
Guestbooks
Assume online condolence messages are public. Do not post addresses, banking information, medical claims or private family disputes.
Livestreams
Use only a stream linked by the funeral home, church or family-authorized memorial.
Correcting an Obituary vs. Correcting a Death Certificate
Contact the obituary publisher or submitter
Keep the Post Bulletin obituary URL and identify the exact text that needs correction. The person or funeral home that submitted the obituary may need to handle the change through the publisher.
Use Minnesota Vital Records
A newspaper correction does not change the certified death record. Minnesota has a separate death-record amendment process.
The current state amendment fee is $40 when a formal amendment is required.
After You Find the Obituary: Practical Next Steps
Save the full notice
Keep the Post Bulletin obituary URL instead of only a search result or screenshot.
Save the funeral-home memorial
Use it for service changes, flowers, guestbook and cemetery details.
Ask about SSA reporting
Confirm whether the funeral home will report the death to Social Security.
Order certificates
Ask banks, insurers, pension offices and estate professionals how many certified copies they actually require.
Check Veteran status
Locate DD-214 or other discharge paperwork early when military service applies.
Keep a contact log
Record dates, phone numbers, case numbers, receipts and documents already submitted.
Common Post Bulletin Obituary Search Mistakes
Searching “Rochester” without Minnesota
Add MN or Minnesota to avoid Rochester, New York and other same-name cities.
Using only one spelling
Try initials, nickname, maiden name and surname-only searches.
Assuming publication date equals death date
An obituary can appear days or weeks after the death.
Using only the newspaper
The funeral-home page may contain newer service details or a notice not easy to find through newspaper search.
Using an obituary as legal proof
A certified death certificate is normally required for legal and financial tasks.
Ignoring library indexes
For older notices, Rochester Public Library and the History Center can save hours of manual browsing.
Related RecentObituaries.info Guides
Obituary Search & Recent Notices Guide
Search by name, city, newspaper, funeral home, cemetery and date.
Death Certificate & Vital Records Guide
Know when a certified government record is needed instead of a public obituary.
Funeral Costs & Consumer Rights
Review price lists, itemized choices, outside goods and payment protections.
Veterans Burial & Memorial Benefits
Use VA, cemetery, marker, flag and burial-benefit routes.
After-Death Notification Checklist
Organize Social Security, banks, insurance, mail, records and other notifications.
Primary and Official Sources Used
Post Bulletin — Obituaries Official newspaper obituary and death-notice section, placement link and obituary guidelines. Post Bulletin — Place an Obituary Current publisher submission route. Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Homes — Obituaries Current Rochester-area funeral-home memorials and obituary search. Macken Funeral Home — Obituaries Current Rochester memorials and funeral-service information. Olmsted County — Death Certificates Eligibility, application, office address, processing and ordering methods. Minnesota Department of Health — Vital Record Fees Current certified death-certificate, additional-copy, VA and amendment fees. Rochester Public Library — Newspapers Post Bulletin EBSCO, Newspapers.com and microfilm coverage. Rochester Public Library — Genealogy & Family History Obituary finder, search tips, historic newspaper guidance and local research workflow. History Center of Olmsted County — Research Resources Local newspapers, obituary indexes, funeral-home records, cemetery inscriptions and older vital records. Minnesota Department of Health — License Verification Official funeral-home, crematory, mortician and funeral-director lookup. Olmsted County — Burial Assistance Local assistance route when adequate resources for final disposition are unavailable. Olmsted County Veteran Services Burial flags, markers, cemetery eligibility and survivor-benefit guidance. Minnesota Attorney General — Planning a Funeral General Price Lists, itemized statements and funeral consumer protections.Post Bulletin Recent Obituaries FAQs
Where can I find Post Bulletin recent obituaries?
Use the official Post Bulletin obituary section at postbulletin.com/obituaries. Open the individual notice and then use the handling funeral home for the latest service information.
Does the Post Bulletin publish death notices as well as obituaries?
Yes. The Post Bulletin obituary section includes both obituary content and shorter death-notice style entries for Rochester and communities across southeastern Minnesota.
How do I search a Post Bulletin obituary by name?
Start with the full name plus Rochester MN or Post Bulletin. If the result is missing, try surname only, nickname, maiden name, nearby town, funeral home or a wider date range.
Why can’t I find a recent Post Bulletin obituary?
The obituary may not have been submitted yet, may use another form of the name, may appear only on a funeral-home website, or may have been published under a nearby community rather than Rochester.
Where can I verify funeral service details from a Post Bulletin notice?
Use the handling funeral home named in the notice. The funeral-home memorial is usually the best source for updated visitation, funeral, cemetery, flowers, livestream and public-or-private service information.
How do I place an obituary in the Post Bulletin?
Open the Post Bulletin obituary section and choose Place an Obituary, or use the publisher’s Column obituary-placement page. Review the current quote and guidelines before submitting.
Where can I find old Post Bulletin obituaries?
Rochester Public Library offers Post Bulletin access through EBSCO, Newspapers.com and microfilm. The History Center of Olmsted County also maintains newspaper and obituary indexes.
How far back does Rochester Public Library’s Post Bulletin archive go?
The Library lists Newspapers.com coverage from 1858 to recent issues, Post Bulletin microfilm from 1925 to recent issues and EBSCO text coverage from 2010 to the present.
Does the History Center of Olmsted County have obituary records?
Yes. Its resources include local newspapers from 1859 to the present, funeral-home records, cemetery inscriptions and a Rochester Public Library Personals Index covering Post Bulletin obituaries from 1984 through 2009.
How much is an Olmsted County death certificate?
The current fee is $13 for the first certified death certificate and $6 for each additional identical copy ordered in the same transaction.
Can anyone order a certified Minnesota death certificate?
No. Minnesota requires a requester to have tangible interest or another qualifying legal basis for a certified death certificate.
Where is Olmsted County Vital Records?
Olmsted County Vital Records is at 151 4th Street SE, Rochester, Minnesota 55904. The office currently lists hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
What if the death occurred in Olmsted County before 1997?
Olmsted County directs certified-record requests for pre-1997 county deaths to the Minnesota Department of Health. For non-certified historical information, use the History Center of Olmsted County.
Is there a free death certificate for Veterans in Minnesota?
Minnesota currently lists a $0 Veterans Administration death certificate when it is requested specifically for qualifying VA purposes.
Does Olmsted County help with burial costs?
Olmsted County has a burial-assistance process for cases where a person dies without adequate resources to cover final disposition. Eligibility and covered arrangements must be confirmed with County Burial Staff.
Where can Rochester-area Veterans get burial-benefit help?
Olmsted County Veteran Services is at 2100 Campus Drive SE, Suite 200 in Rochester. The office assists Veterans, dependents and survivors with burial flags, markers, cemetery eligibility and benefit questions.
How can I verify a Minnesota funeral home?
Use Minnesota Department of Health’s official license-verification page to search funeral establishments, crematories, morticians and funeral directors.
What funeral price information should I receive in Minnesota?
Funeral providers must provide price information by telephone when requested, give a General Price List during in-person arrangement discussions and provide an itemized statement after the family selects goods and services.
Is a Post Bulletin obituary the same as a death certificate?
No. A Post Bulletin obituary or death notice is a public newspaper record. A certified death certificate is an official government record used for legal, financial and administrative purposes.
Before You Share, Travel or Pay
- Start with the official Post Bulletin obituary section.
- Confirm the correct person using name, age, dates, relatives and community.
- Use the handling funeral home for current service details.
- Save funeral, church and cemetery addresses separately.
- Use Olmsted County or Minnesota Vital Records for certified death certificates.
- Use Rochester Public Library and the History Center for older obituary research.
- Check Minnesota funeral licensing when you need to verify a provider.
- Contact Olmsted County Burial Staff when adequate final-disposition resources are unavailable.
- Check Olmsted County Veteran Services when military service applies.
- Ask for funeral price information and an itemized statement before agreeing to services.
- Never send an unexpected funeral payment without independently contacting the funeral provider.
RecentObituaries.info is an independent source-navigation guide. It is not the Post Bulletin, Forum Communications, Olmsted County, Rochester Public Library, the History Center of Olmsted County, Minnesota Department of Health, a funeral home or a Veterans agency. Verify final service, record, fee and benefit information with the organization responsible for it.