Three skiers identified Thursday as feared killed in an Alaskan avalanche had Minnesota connections.
They were Jeremy Leif, 38, who lived in Minnesota; David Linder, 39, who was born and raised in Mankato but most recently lived in Miami; and Charlie Eppard, 39, who attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, a college spokesman confirmed.
Their names were released by the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Linder was an owner of Sub Arctic Media, which owns more than 20 talk show and music radio stations across Minnesota. Managing partner Matt Ketelsen said Linder, an experienced and avid skier, was on a helicopter ski trip with friends.
Ketelsen described Linder as a devoted husband and father, who always was spending time with his three boys. He also said he was a man who cared deeply about the communities his radio stations served.
“Whenever we would talk on the phone, we would just talk about each other’s kids,” Ketelsen said. “First and foremost he was about his kids.”
He said Linder moved to Florida to attend law school and worked remotely as a company owner. Linder’s father, John, was also a well-known radio station owner and chief executive of Minnesota Valley Broadcasting and Radio Mankato. Ketelsen said his son took over his father’s role after his death in 2018.
Ketelsen said David Linder and his family were supportive of the Mankato community and that he “lived life to the fullest.”