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CALGARY- A legendary figure in Alberta politics has passed away.

Former premier and Calgary mayor Ralph Klein passed away on Friday at the age of 70. Alberta Health Services says he was surrounded by family and close friends at the time of his death.

“My beloved husband Ralph has slipped away after 42 years of marriage, and 70 years of life,” said his wife Colleen in a statement. “In his public life, while many will now debate what he stood for, he himself simply believed that public service was important, that it need not be complicated, and that it revolved around people.

“In his private life, his greatest gift to his family was that when the long work days were over, and he came home, it was his sanctuary, and the politics stopped at the door.

“If the public will love him for all the things he did for them, his family will forever love him for all the things he meant to us.”

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Known as ‘King Ralph’ to some, his storied political career began in 1980 when the former political reporter was elected as mayor of Calgary, in what even he called an ‘immense surprise.’

During his reign, Calgary’s economy was booming and he infamously used the phrase “creeps and bums” to describe the influx of eastern Canadians pouring into the city and straining its coffers.

He was also at the helm as Calgary welcomed the world to the 1988 Winter Olympic Games.

A year later he moved on to provincial politics. Klein was elected as an MLA and named environment minister, eventually winning the Progressive Conservative leadership after former premier Don Getty resigned.

Despite being considered an underdog, Klein beat out the Liberals to win the 1993 election and became premier.

He got to work quickly, instituting a program of massive cuts to deal with a spending crisis, including ordering the implosion of Calgary’s General Hospital.

Despite huge public backlash, Klein eliminated nearly $23 billion dollars of debt and put Alberta on a new road to prosperity.

He was re-elected as premier in 1997 and 2001, but shortly after announcing his eventual plans to step down the PCs decided it was time for new blood, handing him the lowest approval rating of his career.

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Klein resigned in 2006.

Ralph Klein, a former television reporter, is elected Mayor of Calgary in October 1980. Ralph Klein leads Conservatives to victory in the 1993 election, winning 51 of the 83 seats in the legislature. Ralph Klein delivers his famous line, "Welcome to Ralph's World", after he coasts to his third election victory. Then Calgary Mayor Ralph Klein presents former Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau with a Calgary Flames sweater on May 16, 1986, during the Stanley Cup finals in Montreal. As Environment Minister, Ralph Klein gives the finger to an environmental activist at a news conference in 1990. Chef John Berry puts his chef hat on a surprised Alberta Premier Ralph Klein during an electioneering stop at the Boat & Sportsmen's Show at the Roundup Centre on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, 2001 in Calgary. Klein was wandering around the grounds and spotted his chef friend, and was asked to help Berry cook up a pheasant in white wine and cream sauce with exotic mushrooms. Calgary Herald/ Marianne Helm Story continues below advertisement Ralph Klein is applauded after he won a fourth straight majority Monday, Nov. 22, 2004 . CP PHOTO/Jeff McIntosh Alberta premier Ralph Klein waves to the crowd prior to his roasting during the annual Ralph Klein Roast at the Telus Convention Centre in 2005. Tim Fraser/Calgary Herald Alberta Premier Ralph Klein is greeted by Quebec Premier Jean Charest during a quick photo-op. Gazette/ Richard Arless Former premier Ralph Klein, and artist Sin Yu Zheng, left, at the unveiling of Mr. Klein's official portrait at the Alberta Legislature Rotunda in Edmonton, Alta. on Thursday, August 30, 2007. CP PHOTO/John Ulan Montreal Mayor Jean Dore (right) hands over the Montreal Olympic torch to the Calgary Mayor Ralph Klein at Calgary City Hallo n Feb. 12, 1988. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ray Giguere Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, centre, wipes away tears as his colleagues, Education Minister Gene Zwozdesky, left, and Finance Minister Shirley McClellan, comfort him following a standing ovation at the end of his last day in the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006. CP PICTURE ARCHIVE/Jeff McIntosh Story continues below advertisement Former Alberta premier Ralph Klein settles into his new office at a Calgary law firm Friday, Jan. 19, 2007 after being hired as the firm's senior business advisor. CP PHOTO/Jeff McIntosh Alberta Premier Ralph Klein at his favorite drinking place the St Louis Hotel in 2006. Leah Hennel/Calgary Herald Former Premier Ralph Klein joined the official party to open the city park named after him located in Calgary's southeast on June 18, 2011. He was joined by various city departments as well as Mayor Naheed Nenshi. Colleen De Neve, Calgary Herald Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, left, and his wife Colleen toast while they attend a farewell event at the St. Louis Hotel in Calgary, Alta. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2006. CP PHOTO/Jeff McIntosh Former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein and former Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach share a laugh at the opening of the Ralph Klein Centre in Olds on Monday Jan 25, 2010. Former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein is awarded an honourary degree by University of Calgary president Elizabeth Cannon (left). His wife Colleen and University Chancellor JIm Dinning, are at right. The University awarded Klein an honourary degree May 17, 2011. Dave Brown, University of Calgary Story continues below advertisement Former Alberta premier Ralph Klein. John Ulan, The Canadian Press Premier Ralph Klein and Mayor Dave Bronconnier hold a cartoon given to the Premier from the Mayor to commemorate the significant surge in transportation funding from the province at the Victoria Park Stampede station in 2005. Jenelle Schneider/Calgary Herald Former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein receives his Alberta Order of Excellence award from Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Col. (RET'D) Donald S. Ethell at Government House on October 20, 2010 in Edmonton. Edmonton Journal/photo by Greg Southam Former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein and his wife Colleen relax at their Calgary home, April 7, 2011. He had been diagnosed with progressive non-fluent aphasia, which is a type of dementia. Don Braid / Calgary Herald Former premier Ralph Klein passed away, after suffering from frontal lobe dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. Leah Hennel/Calgary Herald He was last seen publicly in June 2011 at the dedication of a southeast Calgary park that bears his name. He was mostly silent, dealing with chronic emphysema that had evolved into a rare form of dementia.

Klein had to be hospitalized after a fall in October 2011. He spent his remaining days in a long-term care facility.

Klein was appointed to the Order of Canada in June 2012, and while he couldn’t accept the honour in person, his family issued a statement about his reaction, saying “while words are difficult, his face brightened, and he smiled.”

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Details for a memorial service have not yet been announced, but at the request of the family no state funeral will be held. The City of Calgary has been asked by the Kleins to take the lead on funeral arrangements.

An online condolence book has been set up for those wishing to send their sympathies to the Klein family, and you can also do so by leaving a comment at the bottom of our online condolence page.

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