Search Eden Prairie Obituary Records
Eden Prairie obituary records and death certificates are maintained by Hennepin County, which is the local registrar for all deaths in the city. This page explains how to find death records for Eden Prairie residents through Hennepin County, the free MDH online death index, the Eden Prairie Historical Society, and Hennepin County Library collections.
Eden Prairie Overview
Hennepin County Vital Records
Eden Prairie is in Hennepin County, so death records for the city go through Hennepin County Vital Records. The main county office is at 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55487. The county phone is 612-348-8240. For Eden Prairie residents, the Southdale service center at 7001 York Ave South, Edina, may be more convenient than the main Minneapolis office.
Certified copies cost $13 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Bring valid photo ID. The county handles in-person and mail requests. Current forms and hours are at Hennepin County Vital Records. For deaths before 1908, historical archives and church records are your best options. Call 612-348-8240 before visiting to confirm what to bring.
Minnesota Death Search Index
The Minnesota Department of Health runs a free online death index covering deaths registered statewide from 1908 through 2001. Search by name to see the date and county of death. The index confirms whether a record exists before you order a certified copy. It does not give you the certificate itself, just the key data needed to place an order.
The index is at MDH Death Search Index. After locating the record, order a certified copy from Hennepin County or MDH. MDH charges $13 per certificate. Full ordering instructions are at MDH Vital Records. The MDH County Registrar Directory lists all county offices. No account is required to use the index.
Eden Prairie Historical Society
The Eden Prairie Historical Society maintains local history records for the city. Their website is at Eden Prairie Historical Society. Historical societies hold obituary clippings from local newspapers, cemetery records, church registers, and photographs that go beyond what is available in official county records. For deaths in Eden Prairie from decades past, the historical society may have materials that complement official sources.
Contacting a local historical society is useful when you are researching deaths before 1908 or when official records are incomplete. Staff and volunteers there can point you toward cemeteries, churches, and other community records specific to the Eden Prairie area.
The MNHS death records help page at MNHS Death Records Help explains what data is included in the statewide death index, how to access full certificates, and what records exist for different time periods including pre-1908 Eden Prairie area deaths.
The MNHS death records help page is a good reference for understanding what you can find online versus what requires a records request, which helps streamline your Eden Prairie obituary search.
Eden Prairie Library
The Hennepin County Library Eden Prairie branch serves the city and provides free access to genealogy databases for cardholders. Branch details are at HCLib Eden Prairie, and the full genealogy collection is described at Hennepin County Library Genealogy. At any Hennepin County Library location, you can use Ancestry Library Edition, Fold3, and ProQuest Obituaries for free.
The library's local history collections include city directories and microfilm for newspapers that may not be fully digitized online. Checking city directories helps confirm where a person lived at a specific time, which helps narrow down which county and which office would hold the death record. Reference staff can guide you toward the right sources for your research question.
Newspaper Obituaries
Eden Prairie residents are covered by Twin Cities metro newspapers, especially the Star Tribune, which serves the entire metro including the western suburbs. Current obituaries are at Star Tribune Obituaries. For historical notices, the MNHS Digital Newspaper Hub at MNHS Newspapers provides free access to digitized Minnesota papers going back to the 1800s. The Minneapolis Tribune archive at MNHS is most relevant for Eden Prairie historical obituaries.
Published obituaries name surviving family members, list the funeral home, and describe the person's community connections. These details are not in official death records. Checking newspaper archives and official records together is the most thorough approach.
Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society holds statewide collections covering Hennepin County and the southwest metro area. Their People Search at MNHS People Search queries cemetery records, church registers, and digitized newspapers simultaneously. For Eden Prairie deaths before 1908, MNHS is typically the best available source. Church records and cemetery ledgers at MNHS can document deaths in the area going back to the mid-1800s when the area was first settled.
How to Get Eden Prairie Death Records
Follow these steps to get a certified death certificate for an Eden Prairie resident.
- Search online first: Use the free MDH Death Search Index to confirm the record (covers 1908-2001).
- Visit Hennepin County: Try the Southdale office at 7001 York Ave South, Edina, or the main office in Minneapolis. Bring photo ID and $13 for one copy.
- Request by mail: Get the form from MDH Vital Records and mail it with payment and a copy of your ID.
- Call for questions: Reach Hennepin County at 612-348-8240 to confirm hours and documentation requirements.
Certified copies are issued to immediate family members and others with a direct need under Minnesota Statute 144.225. The county can explain eligibility rules when you call. Mail requests typically take one to three weeks.
Nearby Cities
These nearby qualifying cities also have obituary record pages.
Hennepin County Records
Eden Prairie is in Hennepin County. All Eden Prairie death records are filed with Hennepin County Vital Records. Visit the county page for full details on countywide records.