Spry Mrs. Hilda Erickson Will Turn 103 On Sunday By JOSEPH T. LIDDELL Deseret News Staff Writer GRANTSVILLE—Mrs. Hilda Anderson Erickson, 247 W. Main St., Utah's oldest living immigrant pioneer, will cele¬brate her 103rd birthday Sunday at her home—with her ad-mirers who number far and wide. Thursday, bustling and scurrying to make ready for the big day, Mrs. Erickson chuckled and advised, "Don't tell them (the many admirers) there's going to be open house—they'll drop by without being told anything." Friends visit her often throughout the year at her home in Grantsville, where she lives alone (despite her great¬ly advanced years). They know when her celebration comes "because it has happened so often," she jokes. "I know the secret of how to live a long time," Mrs. Erickson confided. "That's why I'm going to live to be a hun¬dred and four, maybe older. I'll be starting on 104 right away," she declared and chuckled with excitement. Fell Down stairs "This here shoulder," she lightly frowned, placing her left hand on her right shoulder, "it doesn't feel so spry, though, since I fell last sum¬mer coming out of the beauty parlor." She fell down five stairs, severely bruising ribs, shoulder and her head, but "didn't break any bones," she recalled. The way to lick aches and pains and live long is "get lots of fresh air, eat sensible foods —don't eat too much fancy stuff—eat bread and milk, po¬tatoes and common foods," she advises. And adds, "Sleep enough. Don't be afraid to sleep all you need to. You'll live longer and still won't miss out on anything." Work, And Play, Too Work a lot, and play, too, she cautions. "I used to get out in the air and ride a lot on a horse. Some¬times I rode 60 miles to care for the sick," Mrs. Erickson said. She was comparable to a country physician at the turn See ERICKSON on B-6