Minnesota emergency dispatcher drowns while whitewater rafting on fast-moving river in Canada

A central Minnesota woman and longtime dispatcher for the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office died while whitewater rafting on a river in western Canada, her family and officials said.

Linda Lee Day, 56, of Upsala drowned Wednesday evening while rafting on the Kicking Horse River in Golden, British Columbia, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. James Grandy told the Star Tribune on Monday.

Day was with others on vacation with a guide when she went into the Kicking Horse River in the southeastern corner of the province, Grandy said.

“There was a significant current,” Grandy said.

Rescue personnel brought Day to shore, where they provided first aid, but she was declared dead at the scene, Grandy said.

Day worked in law enforcement in Morrison County since 2008.

“She was a caring person and always went out of her way, putting others first,” the Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook. “Linda touched many lives, and she was recognized for the way she handled many critical incidents throughout her career.”

Day previously worked as an emergency medical technician/paramedic for Gold Cross Ambulance and as a member of the Upsala First Response Team.

Camp Lebanon near Upsala posted on Facebook soon after Day’s death that she had served as its program director from 1992 to 2007, after working as a counselor.

“Linda touched the lives of thousands of campers and staff,” the post read.

A funeral service is scheduled for July 20 at Living Hope Church in Little Falls, Minn., with visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. July 19 at Emblom Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls and again from 9:30-11:00 a.m. July 20 at the church. Burial will be held later in Bayport.