They are remembering her for her peerless leadership, sense of humor, institutional knowledge of the Legislature and deep commitment to doing good work to improve the lives of Minnesotans.

The former state House speaker, assassinated Saturday, helped to pass some of the country’s most ambitious state clean energy policy.

There were no speeches because there are no words. The crowd at Wednesday night’s memorial for Melissa and Mark Hortman stretched down the steps of the State Capitol and across the lawn. People hugged and cried.