Chisago County Sheriff's Deputy Ronald R. Butcher, 39, of rural Shafer died of drowning Wednesday, July 21, while tubing with his wife, Lori, and 13-year-old son on the St. Croix River.

The call came in to the Polk County Sheriff's Department at 5:12 p.m. from a person in a canoe on the river north of the Wisconsin State Highway 243 bridge. The Osceola Fire Department, Lakes Region Emergency Service, National Parks Service and a Polk County deputy were dispatched to the location.

According to the Polk County report, Butcher and his family were floating down the river from Franconia, Minn., to Osceola. Butcher was on an air mattress and had a rope that was approximately 15-20 feet long tied to his ankle.
The rope was being used to tow an inner tube holding a cooler. The rope became tangled in debris in the river and pulled Butcher under the water in heavy current.

Butcher's wife and son called for help. Two adults, who had left the Franconia landing on air mattresses at about
the same time as the Butcher family, attempted to help Butcher. They were unable to reach him due to the strong current.

People in a canoe said they called 911 for help. Osceola firemen arrived on the scene with boats and struggled against the current. One fireman jumped in the water and located Butcher and got him into a boat
with the help of a National Park ranger. The rescue team performed CPR and brought Butcher to the Osceola landing where he was taken to the Osceola Medical Center by ambulance. Butcher was pronounced dead at the medical center after additional life-saving attempts were made.

Butcher was a 13-year veteran of the Chisago County Sheriff's Department.

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