Ferguson served in the Alaska Legislature from 1971 to 1986, serving four years in the House and nearly 12 years in the Senate, before a stroke forced him to retire.

A former Alaska Federation of Natives president, Ferguson was credited with helping to create Rural Education Attendance Areas that helped rid Bush Alaska of federal education policies that required many Native children to leave home to continue school.

Ferguson was also instrumental in expanding rural court systems, public health and safety programs and improve rural telecommunications.

"He had a knack as a politician to find a compromise and knew how to close out a session and make agreements," said former lawmaker Al Adams, who was elected to Ferguson's Senate seat after he left.

Ferguson died in Kotzebue on Wednesday of what his widow, Sophie, said was a stroke. Ferguson had suffered a stroke in May 2000 that left him without the ability to speak, she said.

Gov. Frank Murkowski ordered state flags to be flown at half-staff until the day of Ferguson's memorial service. Murkowski lauded Ferguson for his work to improve living conditions in rural Alaska.

"The people of Alaska, especially in rural Alaska, owe a debt of gratitude to Senator Ferguson for his determination to improve life in the villages," Murkowski said.

Ferguson and then-Sen. John Sackett, a Republican from Galena, are credited by many with making the Bush Caucus of rural lawmakers a powerful force in the Legislature.

"It was such a tragedy when he couldn't serve in the Senate," said Willie Hensley, a childhood friend and the lawmaker appointed to replace Ferguson when he left the Senate.

Hensley called Ferguson a "selfless civil servant" who also fought to secure more funding to offset the expensive costs of providing education in rural areas.

Through a mixture of quiet diplomacy and deft political gamesmanship, Ferguson ensured that rural Alaska benefited from the oil riches that flowed into state coffers, observers say.

"More than anything else, that will be his enduring legacy," said Native leader Byron Mallott.

"Fundamentally in the legislative process, he understood the art of the deal," said Mike Scott, who served as a legislative aide for Ferguson. "People call it a powerbroker. I think today he'd call it a facilitator."