A Southwest Alaska village police officer known for his Yup'ik dancing and singing drowned in the Kuskokwim River after his boat sank, according to Alaska State Troopers.

The officer, Ralph Lake, and his wife, Janice Lake, of Napaskiak were traveling the short distance by boat from Bethel to Napaskiak on Saturday afternoon when their motor quit and the boat began sinking, according to troopers.

The couple swam for shore but when Janice Lake got out of the river, she couldn't find her husband, troopers said.

She was found at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday. A search-and-rescue effort began that day and continued until 4:52 p.m. Tuesday, when his body was found in the Kuskokwim upriver from Napaskiak, troopers spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said. His body was being taken to Anchorage for an autopsy.

At least 20 boats dragged the river on Saturday and there were aerial and ground searches through the weekend, said trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters.

A Napaskiak village public safety officer said Tuesday that several Native corporations, local organizations and families in the region had been donating fuel and food for the searchers.

The officer, Gregory Larson, and Lake were first cousins, and they were like brothers -- in the Yup'ik tradition and also as fellow law enforcement officers, Larson said.

Lake, 36, was "into Eskimo dancing in his spare time," Larson said. "He loved to go out and teach young people about Eskimo dance. He was a really good singer."

"He was a very quiet, respectful person. You never saw him hollering or being mad at anybody," Larson said.

He said people in the village are grateful for all of the donations and the assistance they've received from search-and-rescue personnel.

Calista Corp. and at least three other organizations donated drums of fuel, Larson said.

Find Elizabeth Bluemink online at adn.com/contact/ebluemink or call 257-4317.

ADVERTISEMENT