Memorial Service for Legendary Broadcaster Pat Ebertz Set for Thursday

(KNSI) – A memorial service is being held for Pat Ebertz on Thursday at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids.

Ebertz had a lengthy career in radio, including as a Leighton Media employee and a fixture of Hot Talk With the Ox. Host Dan “The Ox” Ochsner says Ebertz’s trademark was his sincerity.

“When he asked you how you were doing, he truly wanted to know. He would ask you with his eyes. And whatever you’d respond with, he would ask follow-up questions. He really wanted to know how you’re doing.”

Ebertz first got behind a mic at just age 14 in Jamestown, North Dakota, where he grew up. His career took him across the region. Ebertz was part of the popular Dave Ryan morning show in the Twin Cities for nearly a decade.

He once made USA Today after being arrested at Niagara Falls. He climbed over the railing and held his cell phone next to the rushing water so the audience could hear back in Minnesota. The entire incident took place on air.

Ebertz was the temporary fill-in host for Ochsner as he campaigned for state Senate in 2005. He also worked in sales for a time, and Ebertz maintained a role on the show as part of “Ox and Friends,” which runs for one hour each Friday.

Ochsner says Ebertz’s death was unexpected, but he is thankful he got a chance to pay tribute to someone he now considers a friend on-air in a natural way.

“It’s always been his job on “Ox and Friends” to come up with “In Memoriam” for our New Year’s show to tell us who died that year and expound upon some of their life stories. Lo and behold, [in 2023] we’d all be talking about him.”

Ochsner says Ebertz touched a lot of people. Tears and laughs are expected to come in abundance at the visitation, which will be held from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.

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