A Perry woman is proud of her little sister Thursday night after Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds presented her with the 2017 Governor’s Lifesaving Awards and Outstanding Service Awards in the Susan Knapp Amphitheater on the opening day of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.
Julie LaRue of Ankeny was one of eight people receiving Lifesaving Awards, reserved for “individuals who attempted to save the life of another but without putting their own lives in jeopardy during the rescue.”
LaRue is the sister of Erin Butler of Perry. She administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a heart attack victim in Ankeny May 9 until EMS personnel arrived on the scene.
According to the award synopsis, Monte Engh of Ankeny became ill while riding his bicycle near Saylorville lake in Polk County. Engh fell off his bicycle and was clearly in distress. While several other cyclists stopped and called 911, LaRue asked another bystander whether Engh had a pulse, and she immediately moved to check him herself.
After detecting no heartbeat, LaRue immediately began CPR. Paramedics and an ambulance arrived within minutes with an AED, and the use of the AED was credited with restarting Engh’s heart. Prior to the arrival of the emergency personnel, however, Engh was in full cardiac arrest, and LaRue’s intervention was credited by medical professionals as a lifesaving action.
“I’m really proud of her,” Butler said of her two-years-younger sister. “She has such a big heart! She is a former paramedic and is an LPN who’s getting her RN. She’s someone you want in your corner. She’s the brave one who’s not afraid to jump right in and get her hands dirty. I wish that I had half of her heart and knowledge.”
Joining LaRue at the awards ceremony at the fair were the lively Engh along with LaRue’s husband, Ryan LaRue, and stepson, Lochlan LaRue. Dylan Butler and Chloe Butler of Perry were also on hand to celebrate their aunt’s bravery.
The award was presented jointly by Iowa State Patrol Col. Jeff Ritzman, Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Roxann Ryan, Iowa Lieutenant Gov. Adam Gregg and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Governor’s Lifesaving Awards also went to David Abrahamson of Shakopee, Minn., Jason Brown of Spencer, Roy Flowers of Topeka, Kan., Sean Gibson of Colfax, Timothy Hodge of Polk City, Randy Krile of Spencer and Jason McIntire of Winterset.
The governor also presented Outstanding Services Awards to Mason and Morgan Lilienthal of Tipton, while Jeffery Hawes of Waukon and Mitchell Stumbo of Tipton received Meritorious Service Awards.
All the award winners’ stories of heroism and selflessness can be read on the Iowa Department of Public Safety website.
There are four types of awards within the Governor’s Lifesaving Award Program:
- Lifesaving with Valor Awards are bestowed on individuals who risked their own lives attempting to save the life of another.
- Lifesaving Awards are presented to individuals who attempted to save the life of another but without putting their own lives in jeopardy during the rescue.
- Meritorious Service Awards go to individuals in recognition of courageous and unselfish service rendered during a time of distress.
- Outstanding Service Awards are presented to individuals who performed courageous acts in attempting to save someone in danger of losing his or her life or to individuals who unselfishly rendered service in a time of emergency.
The Governor’s Lifesaving Awards Program was begun in the 1970s to recognize Iowans who performed courageous acts for others or to those who unselfishly assisted in an emergency situations.
