McKown Funeral Home

I have chosen cremation. Is it possible to have a traditional funeral service with viewing?

Yes, more and more families who have chose cremation have chosen to have a traditional funeral service with cremation following. This eases the expense of purchasing a casket while maintaining traditional visitation and funeral rites at church or other facility. A specially designed casket used for this purpose is rented and used for these rite.

I am a Veteran, are there any Veteran's Benefits available to me?

If you are currently receiving a pension from the VA or are on disability because of a
service connected injury, you may be eligible for monetary help with the funeral expenses. All honorably discharged veterans are eligible for military honors with presentation of the Flag, and a government headstone. A veteran may be eligible for other benefits, including benefits during the life of the veteran. Veterans should check on their eligibility by talking with the County Veterans Service Officer. See our link to the Department of Veterans Affairs

What about Social Security Benefits?

The only social security death benefit that is available is a lump sum death benefit in the amount of $255, payable only to an eligible surviving spouse or to a dependent child. The funeral will notify Social Security following the death. See our link to Social Security Administration for more information on Social Security benefits

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How do I obtain a certified copy of a death certificate?

Certified copies of the death certificate are obtained from the State of Nebraska. The cost for each copy is $7.00. We can assist you in obtaining a copy or you may contact them directly at: Health Records Management, P.O. Box 95065, Lincoln, NE 68509-5065, ph. (402) 471-2871.

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What is the average cost of a traditional funeral?

The cost of the funeral is dependent upon the services used and the merchandise selected. There are three places where expenses are incurred:
- Professional Services
- Merchandise selected (casket, vault)
- Cash Advance Items. Cash advance items are items that we pay for on a family's behalf, that are not directly our services. These items include clergy honorarium, music honorarium, grave opening, flowers, lunch, and monument work to list the most common.
With the many options available to you, it is hard to determine what an "average" funeral cost is. We would be more than happy to sit down with you and discuss the expenses either in person or by phone as the law requires. We invite the comparison of funeral expenses.

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If you have any questions you would like answered, contact us
and we will respond as quickly as possible.