Preneed Activities Deferred Preneed Revenues [Roll Forward] (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Preneed Activities Deferred Preneed Revenues (Details) [Abstract]
Deferred revenue and deferred receipts held in trust		$ 5,020,979		$ 5,265,206
Accounting Changes [Text Block]		37991
Net Preneed Deferred Sales		$ 505,146
Deferred Revenue Acquisitions (dispositions) of businesses, net		148,048
Deferred Investment Earnings, Net		20,720
Recognized deferred preneed revenues		(212,195)
Recognized deferred revenues, current period sales		(242,438)
Change in amounts due for unfulfilled performance obligations	$ (551,092)	(574,737)	$ 0
Deferred Revenue Change in Cancellation Allowance		62,147
Effect of foreign currency and other on deferred revenue		$ (12,554)