Losing someone you love is one of the hardest experiences any of us will ever face. I remember when my grandmother passed away a few years ago. The grief was overwhelming, and the last thing I wanted to worry about was figuring out funeral arrangements or where to find obituary information. But that’s exactly where a trusted funeral home makes all the difference. In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory has been that trusted name for over a century, helping families navigate their darkest hours with dignity, compassion, and professional care.
If you’re searching for George Boom obituaries, chances are you’re either mourning a recent loss, trying to pay respects to someone who passed, or perhaps planning for your own family’s needs. Whatever brings you here, I want you to know that this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about accessing obituaries at this historic funeral home, the services they offer, and how they’ve become such an integral part of the Sioux Falls community.
Understanding George Boom Funeral Home and Its Legacy
When you look for obituaries in Sioux Falls, George Boom Funeral Home is often the first name that comes up, and there’s good reason for that. This isn’t some corporate chain that rolled into town five years ago. We’re talking about a funeral home with roots going back to 1919, when Maurice Burtsch first established the business. Think about that for a moment. This funeral home has been serving families through two world wars, the Great Depression, the moon landing, and into the digital age. That’s over 105 years of continuous service to the same community.
The name “George Boom” entered the picture in 1954 when George Boom himself became a partner in what was then called Banton-Sorensen and Boom Funeral Home. By 1956, he had become the majority stockholder and renamed it George Boom Funeral Home, a name that has stuck ever since. What I find particularly touching is that, even after George and his wife, Faye, retired in 2010 and after the employees purchased the business in the early 1990s, they kept the name. Phil Schmitz, the current manager and funeral director, explained it simply: “Boom’s legacy in the community was strongly established.”That tells you something about the respect this name carries.
George Boom himself is still alive at 96 years old and living in Sioux Falls. I imagine he must feel tremendous pride seeing his name continue to serve families with the same values he instilled decades ago. He wasn’t just a funeral director; he served as Minnehaha County Coroner in the mid-1960s, operated an ambulance service for years, and was deeply involved in community organizations from the Optimist Club to the El Riad Shrine. This kind of deep community connection is rare in today’s world of corporate consolidation, and it matters when you’re trusting a funeral home with your loved one’s final arrangements.
How to Access George Boom Obituaries Online
Now, let’s get practical. If you’re looking for a specific obituary or checking recent listings, the process is straightforward but worth understanding in full. George Boom Funeral Home maintains an active obituaries page on its website at georgeboom.com/obits. This page is updated regularly with recent passings, and each listing typically includes the full obituary text, service information, visitation details, and often a link to watch livestreamed services.
From my experience helping friends navigate this process, I recommend checking the website directly rather than relying solely on third-party obituary aggregators. While sites like Legacy.com also list George Boom obituaries, going straight to the source ensures you have the most current information, especially regarding service times that might change. The funeral home’s website also tends to have more complete biographical information and family-submitted photos that might not appear elsewhere.
When you visit the obituaries page, you’ll typically see the most recent listings first. Each entry includes the deceased’s full name, age, date of passing, and a summary. Clicking through gives you the complete obituary, which often reads like a life story rather than just a death notice. These write-ups capture the essence of who someone was: their career achievements, their hobbies, their family connections, and the impact they had on others. It’s touching to see how the staff at George Boom works with families to craft these tributes, because as Phil Schmitz noted, “It’s not just the birthdate and the death date, there’s so much in between.”
What You’ll Find in a George Boom Obituary
Reading through dozens of George Boom obituaries over the years, I’ve noticed they follow a thoughtful format that helps both immediate family and community members understand the full picture. A typical obituary will include basic biographical information: where the person was born, where they grew up, the schools they attended, and their career path. But it goes deeper than that. You’ll usually find sections about their character, their passions, their faith (if that was important to them), and the specific ways they touched the lives of others.
The obituaries also provide practical information that grieving families need. This includes details about visitation hours, where services will be held (whether at the funeral home, a church, or another location), and burial or cremation arrangements. Many families now choose to include information about memorial donations instead of flowers, often directing gifts to charities that were meaningful to the deceased.
One feature I particularly appreciate is the inclusion of livestream links for services. This became essential during the COVID-19 pandemic when gathering restrictions prevented many people from attending in person. Still, it remains valuable today for family members who live out of state or cannot travel due to health or financial constraints. The obituary page will typically indicate whether the service will be livestreamed and provide instructions for accessing the video feed.
The Range of Services Behind the Obituaries
When you see a George Boom obituary, it’s the public face of what is often a much larger process of care and service happening behind the scenes. The funeral home offers comprehensive services that have evolved significantly over the decades. Traditional burial services remain available, of course, with options for viewing, visitation, and funeral ceremonies either at the funeral home or at a family’s church. But cremation has become increasingly popular, with George Boom reporting that 55% of families now choose this option.
The funeral home’s on-site crematory, added when they built their new facility in 2018, allows families to have cremation services handled entirely in-house rather than outsourcing to a third party. This provides peace of mind for many families who worry about the chain of custody with their loved one’s remains. They even offer a witnessing room where family members can be present for the cremation process if that aligns with their cultural or personal preferences.
Pre-planning services are another significant offering that more families are taking advantage of. Making funeral arrangements in advance removes the emotional burden from surviving family members and allows individuals to ensure their final wishes are respected. George Boom offers pre-planning consultations where you can discuss options, make selections, and even prepay for services if desired. From a practical standpoint, this also locks in current prices and protects against inflation, which is worth considering given that funeral costs tend to rise over time.
The New Facility: Modern Comfort Meets Traditional Values
In February 2018, George Boom Funeral Home opened a new state-of-the-art facility that represents a significant evolution in how they serve families. The original building, constructed in 1964 when the funeral home moved to its E. 10th Street location, was designed to serve 75 to 100 families per year. By 2016, they were serving around 400 families annually, and the old building couldn’t accommodate the growing community’s needs.
The new facility, which overlooks Hills of Rest Cemetery, spans nearly 27,000 square feet and features an Arts and Crafts architectural style that feels warm and welcoming rather than clinical or depressing. One of the most significant improvements is the flexible chapel space, which can be divided into four separate areas or opened up to seat 500 people. This means multiple families can hold visitations simultaneously without feeling crowded or rushed.
The dining facilities can accommodate 150 people, allowing receptions and gatherings after services without requiring families to find an outside venue. There’s also patio access for outdoor services, which is beautiful during South Dakota’s warmer months. As someone who has attended services at both the old and new facilities, I can tell you the difference in comfort and atmosphere is remarkable. When you’re already dealing with grief, being in a space that feels dignified and peaceful matters more than you might expect.
Technology and Modern Memorial Services
The funeral industry isn’t typically associated with cutting-edge technology, but George Boom has embraced digital tools in ways that genuinely help families. Livestreaming services, which I mentioned earlier, have become standard. This technology allows grandparents to watch their great-grandchild’s memorial service from a nursing home, or allows a deployed military member to say goodbye to a parent from halfway around the world.
Beyond livestreaming, the funeral home helps families create multimedia tributes that can include photo slideshows, video montages, and even recorded messages from family members who want to share memories. These can be displayed during services and shared online through the obituary page. Some families have even incorporated unique elements, such as motorcycle processions or golf cart memorials, reflecting the personalities and passions of their loved ones.
The website serves as a digital memorial space where visitors can leave condolences in online guestbooks, light virtual candles, and share memories. These comments often become treasured keepsakes for grieving families, providing comfort in the weeks and months after the funeral when the initial wave of support has subsided. I’ve seen families print these guest books and include them in memory albums, creating a permanent record of how many lives their loved one touched.
Local Ownership and Community Commitment
In an era where large corporate chains have bought up many funeral homes, George Boom remains locally owned and operated. The current ownership group purchased the business from George Boom himself in the early 1990s, and manager Phil Schmitz, who started working there in 1985, became a shareholder in 1994. This local ownership means decisions are made by people who live in Sioux Falls, understand the community’s values and traditions, and are invested in maintaining the funeral home’s long-term reputation.
The funeral home’s connection to the community extends beyond its primary business. They manage Hills of Rest Cemetery, which adjoins their property, and have been active members of the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce for decades. Schmitz has spoken about how the Chamber helps them connect with newcomers to the city and invest in their staff. This kind of community integration matters because it means the funeral home isn’t just a business extracting money from grieving families; it’s an institution that contributes to the area’s overall well-being.
I’ve noticed this community focuses on small details, like how the staff remembers families they’ve served before, or how they accommodate special requests that might not be profitable but are meaningful to the family. When a funeral home has been part of a community for over a century, they understand that their reputation is built one family at a time, and that treating people with compassion isn’t just good business, it’s the right thing to do.
Navigating Grief: Resources Beyond the Obituary
Finding an obituary is often just the beginning of the grieving process. George Boom provides resources to help families cope with loss both immediately after a death and in the months that follow. Their staff includes licensed funeral directors who are trained not just in the technical aspects of funeral service but in supporting bereaved families through difficult decisions and emotions.
The funeral home can connect families with grief support groups, counseling services, and educational materials about the grieving process. They understand that grief doesn’t end with the funeral service, and they maintain relationships with the families they serve long after the obituary has been posted. This ongoing care is something that sets independent, community-based funeral homes apart from corporate competitors who might view each funeral as a transaction to be completed.
For those trying to support a grieving friend or family member, the obituary page often guides on appropriate ways to express condolences. Whether it’s sending flowers, making a memorial donation, attending services, or simply leaving an online message of support, the obituary serves as a central hub for community responses to loss.
Practical Tips for Using George Boom Obituaries
If you’re looking for information about a recent death or plan to attend services, here are some practical suggestions based on my experience and the funeral home’s practices. First, check the obituaries page early and check it often. Information is typically posted within 24 hours of a death being reported to the funeral home, but service details might be added or updated as arrangements are finalized. If you don’t see the obituary you’re looking for, it may be because the family is still making arrangements or has chosen to delay the announcement.
When reading an obituary, pay attention to the specific terminology used. A “visitation” typically means the casket is present and family members are receiving guests. A “memorial service” usually indicates the body is not present, which is common with cremation. A “celebration of life” suggests a less formal, more personalized gathering focused on happy memories rather than a traditional religious ceremony. Understanding these terms helps you know what to expect and how to dress appropriately.
If you plan to attend a service at the main Sioux Falls location, be aware that parking is plentiful at the new facility, which was a major improvement from the old building, where parking had become challenging. The Brandon Valley Chapel location serves families in the eastern part of the metro area and may be more convenient depending on where the family lives or where the service is being held.
The Importance of Pre-Planning and Documentation
While we typically search for obituaries reactively after a death, I want to emphasize the value of pre-planning. If you’re reading this article because you anticipate a loss or are simply thinking about end-of-life matters, consider reaching out to George Boom or another funeral home to discuss pre-planning options. Having these conversations in advance, while difficult, removes an enormous burden from your family members during what will already be one of the hardest times of their lives.
Pre-planning also ensures that your obituary reflects your actual life and wishes, rather than leaving family members to guess or make decisions while grieving. You can specify what information you want included, what photo should be used, and even write portions of the obituary yourself. Some people find this morbid, but I see it as a final gift to your family: clarity and peace of mind during a chaotic time.
Conclusion
George Boom’s obituaries represent more than just death announcements. They are the final chapter in life stories that span decades, connecting generations and preserving memories for future descendants. The funeral home behind these obituaries has spent over a century perfecting the art of helping families say goodbye with dignity, compassion, and personal attention that reflects the unique life of each individual they serve.
Whether you’re searching for information about a recent loss, planning for future needs, or simply trying to understand what makes this funeral home such a significant part of the Sioux Falls community, I hope this guide has been helpful. The team at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory understands that they’re not just handling funeral arrangements; they’re helping families begin the healing process and honor the legacies of those who mattered.
In my own experience with loss, I’ve learned that the quality of care you receive from a funeral home can either compound your grief or help alleviate it. The obituary is just one small piece of that care, but it’s often the first thing people see and the lasting public record of a life well-lived. George Boom has been getting that right for over a hundred years, and based on everything I’ve seen, they’ll continue doing so for generations to come.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How soon after a death are obituaries posted on the George Boom website? A: Obituaries are typically posted within 24 hours of the funeral home receiving the necessary information from the family. However, some families choose to delay the announcement or may need additional time to finalize service details.
Q: Can I watch funeral services online if I cannot attend in person? A: Yes, George Boom offers livestreaming for many services. The obituary listing will indicate whether a service will be livestreamed and provide instructions for accessing the video feed.
Q: Does George Boom only serve Sioux Falls, or do they handle arrangements for people living elsewhere? A: While their facilities are in Sioux Falls and Brandon, South Dakota, they can assist families regardless of where the death occurred. They can coordinate transportation and arrangements for families whose loved ones have passed away in other cities or states.
Q: How long are obituaries kept on the George Boom website? A: Obituaries typically remain on the website indefinitely, creating a permanent digital memorial that families and friends can revisit over the years.
Q: Can I leave condolences or share memories on the obituary page? A: Yes, each obituary has a guest book feature where visitors can leave messages of support, share memories, and express condolences to the family.
Q: Does George Boom offer services for veterans? A: Yes, they work with families to arrange military honors, coordinate with national cemeteries, and ensure veterans receive the benefits and recognition they’ve earned through their service.
Q: What is the difference between the Sioux Falls location and the Brandon Valley Chapel? A: The main Sioux Falls facility at 3408 E. 10th Street is the primary location with full services, including the on-site crematory. The Brandon Valley Chapel serves families in the eastern part of the metro area and may be more convenient for those living in or near Brandon.