Stevens County Obituary Records

Stevens County obituary and death records are available through the Washington State Department of Health, the Washington State Digital Archives, and several genealogical collections that cover the county from the late 1800s forward. Stevens County was created in 1863 and sits in northeastern Washington, with Colville as the county seat. Records are kept at the state level for most modern deaths, and pre-1907 records are held at the county and state archives. This guide explains each source and how to get the information or document you need.

Stevens County Vital Records

Certified death certificates for deaths in Stevens County are issued by the Washington State Department of Health. The Center for Health Statistics maintains death records from July 1, 1907 to the present for all Washington counties, including Stevens. Stevens County was created in 1863, and for deaths before state registration began in 1907, researchers should contact the Stevens County Auditor in Colville or search the Washington State Digital Archives for county death registers.

Washington's vital records law changed on January 1, 2021. Under RCW 70.58A, certified copies of death certificates are restricted to people with a direct and tangible interest in the record. Qualifying individuals include the spouse or domestic partner, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, great-grandparents, legal representatives, and authorized agents. People who do not qualify can request a noncertified informational copy, which is useful for genealogy but not valid for legal purposes.

For the most recent deaths, those in the current or prior month, contact the local health department in Colville rather than the state office. The CDC's Where to Write for Vital Records page lists the Center for Health Statistics phone number as (360) 236-4300 and outlines what information and documentation to include with your request.

Washington State Digital Archives Death Index

The Washington State Digital Archives Death Certificate Index is one of the best free tools for researching Stevens County obituary and death records. The index covers statewide deaths from 1907 through 1960 and again from 1965 through 2017, with more than 2.3 million records total. Searches are free and anyone can use the database without registering.

The 1907 to 1960 records were transcribed by FamilySearch volunteers and tend to include fuller information, such as cause of death, names of surviving family members, place of burial, and the attending physician. The 1965 to 2017 records came from the Department of Health and include key identifying data. Death certificate images are available for deaths that occurred more than 25 years ago. Use the certificate number from the index to order a certified copy if you need one.

The Digital Archives also holds a specific Stevens County collection. The Stevens County collection at the Digital Archives includes county-level records transferred from the Stevens County Auditor. These are separate from the statewide death index and can help locate individuals who died before 1907 or whose records are not yet in the main index.

The Washington State Digital Archives holds a specific Stevens County collection with county auditor records transferred to the state, supplementing the statewide death certificate index that covers 1907 through 2017.

Stevens County Historical Death Records

Stevens County kept its own death records before Washington began statewide registration in 1907. Those county death registers, which typically list the name of the deceased, date and place of death, age, cause of death, birthplace, and the names of parents or witnesses, have been microfilmed. Copies are available at the Washington State Library and on the Washington State Digital Archives for any records that have been digitized.

The Washington State Library vital records LibGuide explains how the pre-1907 county register system worked and how to search the available materials. The State Library holds microfilm copies of Stevens County death registers in its genealogy collection. Researchers who cannot visit in person can submit lookup requests through the Ask-A-Librarian service at no cost.

FamilySearch holds Washington County Death Registers from 1881 through 1979 as a free indexed collection, along with Washington Death Certificates from 1907 through 1960. For Stevens County, these collections are particularly useful for families that were in the area during the territorial period and through the early decades of statehood. Pend Oreille County, which borders Stevens to the east, was carved out of Stevens County in 1911, so early records may appear under either county depending on where a person lived at the time of death.

A second Stevens County collection at the Washington State Digital Archives, catalog number 1777, holds additional records transferred from the county relating to deaths and vital events registered before statewide recordkeeping began.

Ordering Stevens County Death Certificates

You can order a certified Stevens County death certificate by mail, online, or by phone. Mail orders go to Washington Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709. The fee is $25 per certificate and processing takes 8 to 10 weeks after the office receives your payment. Include the decedent's full name, approximate date of death, and city or county of death. Also include valid government-issued photo identification and documentation proving your qualifying relationship.

Online and phone orders through VitalChek start at $40.50 per certificate. VitalChek is the only state-contracted vendor. Orders typically ship within 3 to 7 business days. There is an optional $3.00 identity authentication upgrade that can bring the total to $43.50. Payment is accepted by major credit or debit card. Avoid other third-party services that claim to help process Washington vital records orders, as those are not authorized vendors and may charge significant additional fees.

The DOH vital records ordering page explains all three methods and links to the application forms. For help, call the Consumer Resource Center at 206-464-6684 or 800-551-4636 (Washington State only), open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Genealogy Resources for Stevens County Deaths

Researchers working on Stevens County family history have access to several useful free and low-cost tools. The Washington State Library maintains the Washington State Death Index from July 1, 1907 through 2004 on microfiche and microfilm. The vital records LibGuide explains how to search the collection and submit lookup requests. Staff can assist with specific searches through the Ask-A-Librarian service.

The Washington State Library also publishes a research handout on finding Washington State death records. That handout describes each layer of records from pre-1907 county registers through modern certificates, explains which office holds each type, and provides guidance on microfilm resources at the library and digital resources on the Washington State Digital Archives. It is a practical starting point for anyone unfamiliar with the structure of Washington death records.

Local newspapers covering Stevens County, including papers serving Colville and surrounding communities, have published obituaries and death notices for many decades. Some of those notices are accessible through Genealogy Bank and Newspapers.com. Cemetery records for Stevens County communities can also be searched through BillionGraves and FindAGrave. FamilySearch holds several free Washington death record collections that include Stevens County entries going back to the county's earliest years.

Cities in Stevens County

Stevens County communities include Colville, Chewelah, Kettle Falls, and several small towns. No cities in Stevens County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Stevens County borders several other northeastern Washington counties. Each has its own vital records system and county courthouse.