CALGARY — A memorial for Alberta’s populist former premier Ralph Klein is being held today across the street from where his foray into politics began. Klein was just 26 when he first walked into Calgary’s city hall as a reporter 44 years ago. He would be elected mayor 11 years later and eventually went on to become Alberta’s premier. He died a week ago at the age of 70 after a battle with dementia and lung disease. The Alberta government offered to hold a state funeral, similar to the one given to former premier Peter Lougheed last year. But the family turned down the request, preferring instead to have it organized by the City of Calgary. Lougheed’s memorial last fall was a who’s who of politicians and business leaders and most of the 2,400 attending were there by invitation only. The Klein memorial at Jack Singer Concert Hall — with 500 reserved seats and 1,100 for the general public — is aimed for those who referred to the congenial Klein as simply “Ralph.”