By Tim Engstrom, Albert Lea Tribune.com

A carbon monoxide detector in a fish house could have saved the lives of two Steele County men who died this weekend on Lake of the Woods, said the sister of one of the two men.

Laura Knudsen of Clarks Grove said she spoke with the sheriff of Lake of the Woods County and said asphyxiation from carbon monoxide appears to have been the cause of death for her brother, 53-year-old Ronald D. Dunford Sr. of Holt and for his fishing partner, 47-year-old Daniel F. Erickson of Owatonna.

Lake of the Woods County authorities have not made an exact determination.

&8220;I don&8217;t understand why when you get these licenses you don&8217;t have to get a detector,&8221; Knudsen said Tuesday.

Carbon monoxide is odorless and tasteless, and it is toxic. Low-level affects of CO poisoning are often mistaken for the flu or fatigue, and high level exposure can kill without people being aware of the gas. During cold months in Minnesota, there are campaigns urging people to purchase carbon monoxide detectors for houses and apartments but not much is said about CO detectors for fish houses.

&8220;It would&8217;ve woken him up. It would&8217;ve saved his life,&8221; she said.

Dunford was the oldest of five siblings. Knudsen said she and his family said they urge fishermen to purchase CO detectors for their fish houses.

&8220;If any good were to come from this, we want people to know about this,&8221; Knudsen said.

The two men were discovered in their fish house around 8 p.m. Sunday &8212; not on Saturday as earlier media reports indicated. Although the time of death might have been late Friday night or early Saturday morning. They were last seen eating Friday night at the Morris Point Lake View Lodge, Knudsen said.

She said the fish house had an LP gas furnace and said the sheriff reported a strong northwest wind that likely pushed the fumes from the vent back into the fish house. Knudsen said her brother and Erickson had used Erickson&8217;s fish house before without problems.

Dunford is survived by a wife, two grown sons, three grown stepsons and grandchildren.

Knudsen said her brother liked to fish in the warm months and within the last couple of years began getting into ice fishing. She said he enjoyed grilling outdoors and riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles with his brother, Randy.

&8220;He was very friendly, very kind, always smiling, very helpful. He would always help anyone who needed it,&8221; she said.

Knusen, who works in Albert Lea, said her brother was known as a hard worker. He worked at Owatonna Tool Co.

&8220;He likes people and had a lot friendships, and he knew how to keep those friendships,&8221; she said.

She said the family is doing &8220;as well as can be expected. He was so loved.&8221;

Michaelson Funeral Home of Owatonna is handling the arrangements. The funeral services for Dunford and Erickson are being held jointly at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Owatonna.