Former First Lady of Wyoming, homemaker and ranch matron Martha Close Hansen died early Thursday morning at home in Spring Gulch. She was 97.
She passed five days after what would have been her 77th wedding anniversary with Clifford P. Hansen. The former Wyoming governor and U.S. Senator preceded her in death on Oct. 20, 2009.
Friends remembered her as gracious and sweet, always taking care of others.
Born June 5, 1914, Hansen grew up in Sheridan and attended University of Wyoming, where she met her future husband. After a small ceremony, they moved to Jackson to the ranch where Cliff had grown up. They had two children, Mary and Peter.
On the Hansen ranch, Martha made sure her family and a varying number of ranch hands were well fed, especially when there were huge haying crews. She was an excellent cook by all accounts.
In October 1954, she hosted the gathering of 14 ranch women who began the Jackson Hole Cow Belles. Their mission was to promote beef consumption.
Sometime during that era, she rode horseback for the filming of a motion picture because the lead actress was afraid of horses.
"Grandma looked like a young Ingrid Bergman," said grandson Brad Mead of the home movies he watched of the film being made.
In general, she was happy to let Cliff have the spotlight. When he got into politics, first as a school board member, then as county commissioner, governor and U.S. senator, Martha was at his side. As the state's first lady, in 1965 she compiled "Cooking in Wyoming," a book including recipes and history of the Equality State. She gave tours of the Capitol to Cliff's constituents who visited from Washington, D.C. and contributed her much-lauded recipe of beef tenderloin with blue cheese to an edition of "The Congressional Club Cookbook."
Hansen was a quintessential homemaker and loyal wife, said Diana Brown, whose husband's family ranched nearby.
"She supported him in everything," Brown said. "I don't think they ever said a cross word to one another."
Many folks around town recall seeing Cliff and Martha holding hands, everywhere they went. Margie Thomas said the couple would hold hands to walk in for lunch at the Senior Center of Jackson Hole.
"I said, ‘Couple of lovebirds,' " Thomas said. "Martha said, ‘We're just holding each other up.' "
Upon news of her death, condolences have flooded in from politicians, acquaintances and friends. U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis called Martha and Cliff "the ultimate Wyoming couple." U.S. Senator John Barrasso said he and his wife, Bobbi, "will always remember her generous heart and selfless spirit."
Born Martha Close in Sheridan, Hansen worked on the family ranch and lived in D.C. while Clifford served in the Senate.
After meeting Clifford Hansen while the two were students at the University of Wyoming, the two were married for more than 75 years. Their daughter Mary ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1990, but Mary's son Matt won the governorship last year.
In a statement Thursday, the governor said his grandmother had a quiet grace that was a defining attribute of her life.
"She touched many, as a mother, friend, and ambassador for the state she loved," Mead said in the statement. "Whatever her role, she was unfailingly kind and gracious and she leaves my family both a legacy and a lesson in the resilient strength of a kind heart."
She passed five days after what would have been her 77th wedding anniversary with Clifford P. Hansen. The former Wyoming governor and U.S. Senator preceded her in death on Oct. 20, 2009.
Friends remembered her as gracious and sweet, always taking care of others.
Born June 5, 1914, Hansen grew up in Sheridan and attended University of Wyoming, where she met her future husband. After a small ceremony, they moved to Jackson to the ranch where Cliff had grown up. They had two children, Mary and Peter.
On the Hansen ranch, Martha made sure her family and a varying number of ranch hands were well fed, especially when there were huge haying crews. She was an excellent cook by all accounts.
In October 1954, she hosted the gathering of 14 ranch women who began the Jackson Hole Cow Belles. Their mission was to promote beef consumption.
Sometime during that era, she rode horseback for the filming of a motion picture because the lead actress was afraid of horses.
"Grandma looked like a young Ingrid Bergman," said grandson Brad Mead of the home movies he watched of the film being made.
In general, she was happy to let Cliff have the spotlight. When he got into politics, first as a school board member, then as county commissioner, governor and U.S. senator, Martha was at his side. As the state's first lady, in 1965 she compiled "Cooking in Wyoming," a book including recipes and history of the Equality State. She gave tours of the Capitol to Cliff's constituents who visited from Washington, D.C. and contributed her much-lauded recipe of beef tenderloin with blue cheese to an edition of "The Congressional Club Cookbook."
Hansen was a quintessential homemaker and loyal wife, said Diana Brown, whose husband's family ranched nearby.
"She supported him in everything," Brown said. "I don't think they ever said a cross word to one another."
Many folks around town recall seeing Cliff and Martha holding hands, everywhere they went. Margie Thomas said the couple would hold hands to walk in for lunch at the Senior Center of Jackson Hole.
"I said, ‘Couple of lovebirds,' " Thomas said. "Martha said, ‘We're just holding each other up.' "
Upon news of her death, condolences have flooded in from politicians, acquaintances and friends. U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis called Martha and Cliff "the ultimate Wyoming couple." U.S. Senator John Barrasso said he and his wife, Bobbi, "will always remember her generous heart and selfless spirit."
Born Martha Close in Sheridan, Hansen worked on the family ranch and lived in D.C. while Clifford served in the Senate.
After meeting Clifford Hansen while the two were students at the University of Wyoming, the two were married for more than 75 years. Their daughter Mary ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1990, but Mary's son Matt won the governorship last year.
In a statement Thursday, the governor said his grandmother had a quiet grace that was a defining attribute of her life.
"She touched many, as a mother, friend, and ambassador for the state she loved," Mead said in the statement. "Whatever her role, she was unfailingly kind and gracious and she leaves my family both a legacy and a lesson in the resilient strength of a kind heart."
Former First Lady of Wyoming, homemaker and ranch matron Martha Close Hansen died early Thursday morning at home in Spring Gulch. She was 97.
She passed five days after what would have been her 77th wedding anniversary with Clifford P. Hansen. The former Wyoming governor and U.S. Senator preceded her in death on Oct. 20, 2009.
Friends remembered her as gracious and sweet, always taking care of others.
Born June 5, 1914, Hansen grew up in Sheridan and attended University of Wyoming, where she met her future husband. After a small ceremony, they moved to Jackson to the ranch where Cliff had grown up. They had two children, Mary and Peter.
On the Hansen ranch, Martha made sure her family and a varying number of ranch hands were well fed, especially when there were huge haying crews. She was an excellent cook by all accounts.
In October 1954, she hosted the gathering of 14 ranch women who began the Jackson Hole Cow Belles. Their mission was to promote beef consumption.
Sometime during that era, she rode horseback for the filming of a motion picture because the lead actress was afraid of horses.
"Grandma looked like a young Ingrid Bergman," said grandson Brad Mead of the home movies he watched of the film being made.
In general, she was happy to let Cliff have the spotlight. When he got into politics, first as a school board member, then as county commissioner, governor and U.S. senator, Martha was at his side. As the state's first lady, in 1965 she compiled "Cooking in Wyoming," a book including recipes and history of the Equality State. She gave tours of the Capitol to Cliff's constituents who visited from Washington, D.C. and contributed her much-lauded recipe of beef tenderloin with blue cheese to an edition of "The Congressional Club Cookbook."
Hansen was a quintessential homemaker and loyal wife, said Diana Brown, whose husband's family ranched nearby.
"She supported him in everything," Brown said. "I don't think they ever said a cross word to one another."
Many folks around town recall seeing Cliff and Martha holding hands, everywhere they went. Margie Thomas said the couple would hold hands to walk in for lunch at the Senior Center of Jackson Hole.
"I said, ‘Couple of lovebirds,' " Thomas said. "Martha said, ‘We're just holding each other up.' "
Upon news of her death, condolences have flooded in from politicians, acquaintances and friends. U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis called Martha and Cliff "the ultimate Wyoming couple." U.S. Senator John Barrasso said he and his wife, Bobbi, "will always remember her generous heart and selfless spirit."
Born Martha Close in Sheridan, Hansen worked on the family ranch and lived in D.C. while Clifford served in the Senate.
After meeting Clifford Hansen while the two were students at the University of Wyoming, the two were married for more than 75 years. Their daughter Mary ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1990, but Mary's son Matt won the governorship last year.
In a statement Thursday, the governor said his grandmother had a quiet grace that was a defining attribute of her life.
"She touched many, as a mother, friend, and ambassador for the state she loved," Mead said in the statement. "Whatever her role, she was unfailingly kind and gracious and she leaves my family both a legacy and a lesson in the resilient strength of a kind heart."
She passed five days after what would have been her 77th wedding anniversary with Clifford P. Hansen. The former Wyoming governor and U.S. Senator preceded her in death on Oct. 20, 2009.
Friends remembered her as gracious and sweet, always taking care of others.
Born June 5, 1914, Hansen grew up in Sheridan and attended University of Wyoming, where she met her future husband. After a small ceremony, they moved to Jackson to the ranch where Cliff had grown up. They had two children, Mary and Peter.
On the Hansen ranch, Martha made sure her family and a varying number of ranch hands were well fed, especially when there were huge haying crews. She was an excellent cook by all accounts.
In October 1954, she hosted the gathering of 14 ranch women who began the Jackson Hole Cow Belles. Their mission was to promote beef consumption.
Sometime during that era, she rode horseback for the filming of a motion picture because the lead actress was afraid of horses.
"Grandma looked like a young Ingrid Bergman," said grandson Brad Mead of the home movies he watched of the film being made.
In general, she was happy to let Cliff have the spotlight. When he got into politics, first as a school board member, then as county commissioner, governor and U.S. senator, Martha was at his side. As the state's first lady, in 1965 she compiled "Cooking in Wyoming," a book including recipes and history of the Equality State. She gave tours of the Capitol to Cliff's constituents who visited from Washington, D.C. and contributed her much-lauded recipe of beef tenderloin with blue cheese to an edition of "The Congressional Club Cookbook."
Hansen was a quintessential homemaker and loyal wife, said Diana Brown, whose husband's family ranched nearby.
"She supported him in everything," Brown said. "I don't think they ever said a cross word to one another."
Many folks around town recall seeing Cliff and Martha holding hands, everywhere they went. Margie Thomas said the couple would hold hands to walk in for lunch at the Senior Center of Jackson Hole.
"I said, ‘Couple of lovebirds,' " Thomas said. "Martha said, ‘We're just holding each other up.' "
Upon news of her death, condolences have flooded in from politicians, acquaintances and friends. U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis called Martha and Cliff "the ultimate Wyoming couple." U.S. Senator John Barrasso said he and his wife, Bobbi, "will always remember her generous heart and selfless spirit."
Born Martha Close in Sheridan, Hansen worked on the family ranch and lived in D.C. while Clifford served in the Senate.
After meeting Clifford Hansen while the two were students at the University of Wyoming, the two were married for more than 75 years. Their daughter Mary ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1990, but Mary's son Matt won the governorship last year.
In a statement Thursday, the governor said his grandmother had a quiet grace that was a defining attribute of her life.
"She touched many, as a mother, friend, and ambassador for the state she loved," Mead said in the statement. "Whatever her role, she was unfailingly kind and gracious and she leaves my family both a legacy and a lesson in the resilient strength of a kind heart."
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