Cliff Hansen, a Jackson Hole native who served as U.S. senator and Wyoming governor, died Tuesday at his home in Spring Gulch, a family member said. He was 97.

Hansen, born in Zenith and raised in the valley by homesteader parents, held his Senate seat from 1967 to 1978 and was governor from 1963 to 1966. He was a Republican.

The rancher’s political career included terms as Teton County commissioner, hospital board member and University of Wyoming trustee.

Through decades of service, Hansen always gave credit to his wife, Martha. Last month, the couple celebrated 75 years of marriage.

Former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson, of Cody, had a brief conversation with Hansen on Tuesday. Upon hearing of Hansen’s death Tuesday night, he recalled a warm and true person who was “Wyoming through and through.”

“That great big grin, that firm handshake, that marvelous warmth of who he was,” Simpson said. “There was nothing contrived or phony about Cliff Hansen. He was all the man there was, and he did that through his life.”

Any discussion of Hansen has to include Martha, Simpson said.

“Martha, a beautiful, charming, gracious woman,” Simpson said. “In their prime, there was nobody on earth who could have taken either one of them on and prevailed.”

Hansen fell and broke his pelvis Oct. 9 and had to stay in the hospital for about a week before coming home, his granddaughter-in-law Kate Mead said. He died Tuesday evening.

Hansen was accorded decorations and honors throughout his life.

He was named Cattleman of the Century by the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. He was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Okla., in 1995. He was named Citizen of the West in 1996.

A government building in downtown Jackson was named the Clifford P. Hansen Federal Courthouse.

At 92, Hansen attended the unveiling of a plaque in his honor in the State Capitol. He gave self-deprecating and thankful remarks.

Hansen is survived by his wife; brother Robert Hansen, of Idaho Falls, Idaho; sister Ordeen Hansen, of Boise, Idaho; son, Peter Hansen, of Cheyenne; five grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren, Mead said. He was preceded in death by daughter Mary Mead Steinhour.

Times and dates for services and suggestions for memorials had not been set as of Tuesday, although Mead expected services would be held in Cheyenne and Jackson.