R.I.P.: Duaine Sanden, Longtime Grand Forks Radio Broadcaster

Duaine Sanden

Duaine Sanden, a Grand Forks radio personality who was a fixture at sporting events, county fairs, holiday music concerts and racing for decades, died Sunday.

He was 74, according to The Grand Forks Herald.

At age 13, Sanden started his radio career in 1959 at KILO Radio. He later called high school sporting events and UND sporting events and in 2018 he was inducted into the North Dakota Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame.

His radio career, however, was diverse. For 55 straight years, Sanden recorded then broadcast area high school holiday music programs on Christmas Day.

He also was heavily involved in the Grand Forks racing scene for years. For years he did a weekly racing program and later was inducted into the River Cities Speedway Hall of Fame.

He was a fixture on weekend radio in Grand Forks. His weekends, for years, usually started with a Saturday morning coaches show.

His passion for county fairs was immense, said Mark Landa, who is on the Greater Grand Forks Fair board.

“He went the extra mile,” said former radio colleague Mike Hergert. “Whether it was high school sports, the music over the holidays or the county fair, those seemed to be his passions. His car was always filled with equipment.