Former Idaho Gov. Andrus lying in state at Statehouse

The public has been invited to pay its respect to former U.S. Interior Secretary and Idaho Gov. Cecil D. Andrus.

The 85-year-old Andrus died last Thursday of complications from lung cancer. He was the longest-serving governor in Idaho history.

People can pass by Andrus’ casket starting Wednesday in the Idaho Statehouse until Thursday afternoon.

Andrus resigned midway through his second term as Idaho governor in 1977 to become President Jimmy Carter’s secretary of the Interior Department and served until Carter’s term ended in 1981. He then was elected governor two more times, becoming the first four-term governor in Idaho history.

He was the last Democrat to hold the chief executive office in red-state Idaho.

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter said Wednesday during the lying-in-state ceremony that he was blessed to call Andrus a friend despite their political differences.