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Eye On Boise

Orval Hansen lies in state in the Capitol rotunda

Three-term Idaho Congressman Orval Hansen lies in state in the Capitol rotunda on Monday, Nov. 20, 2017; he died Nov. 2 at the age of 91. (Betsy Z. Russell)
Three-term Idaho Congressman Orval Hansen lies in state in the Capitol rotunda on Monday, Nov. 20, 2017; he died Nov. 2 at the age of 91. (Betsy Z. Russell)

Three-term Idaho Congressman Orval Hansen, who died Nov. 2 at the age of 91, is lying in state in the rotunda of the state Capitol this morning; among those paying their respects so far are Lt. Gov. Brad Little; former Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Jones; Attorney General Lawrence Wasden; former attorney general and Lt. Gov. David Leroy; Sen. Maryanne Jordan, D-Boise; longtime Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce head Ray Stark; and more.

Hansen will lie in state from 9 a.m. to noon; his family will be on hand to greet those who come to pay their respects. Funeral services will be at St. Michael’s Cathedral, across from the Capitol at 518 N. 8th St., from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. A reception will be held afterward in the cathedral’s parish hall.

Hansen will be buried later today at Boise’s Pioneer Cemetery in a private family ceremony.

Hansen served three terms in Congress representing Idaho’s 2nd District; a Republican, he was elected in 1968 and re-elected in 1970 and 1972. He had previously served five terms in the Idaho Legislature, including serving as House majority leader.

An attorney and eastern Idaho native, Hansen was a World War II veteran, a marathon runner and a mountain climber; he published his memoir, “Climb the Mountains,” in 2015. He is survived by his wife, June, seven children, 12 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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