You do not have a death certificate was taken by family separated at that stage court decided wife was only beneficiary and have no idea where they are?
The county where the person died will have a death certificate
on file. Contact them or you can obtain one from the state for a
small fee.
Do hospitals charge for a death certificate?
In the US, Death Certificates can be obtained at the town
clerk's office in the town where the decedent died. There is
usually a fee.