Known dearly as Utah’s last pioneer, Hilda Erickson lived quite a life serving throughout her 108 years as a doctor, nurse, midwife, bank director, ranch manager, housewife, mother, mine operator, tailor, bookkeeper, civil service secretary, church working, missionary, and President of Tooele stake primary.

Hilda Anderson was born in Ledge Sweden to Pehr and Katarine Anderson on November 11, 1859. The family joined the church in Sweden and they immigrated to Zion, participating in the last wagon train to cross the plains before trains became the sole means of transportation. The family arrived in Utah October 22, 1866, ultimately settling in Grantsville. 

With a vivacious thirst for knowledge, Hilda attended school in Salt Lake City to study tailoring. It was there she met John Erickson and after a very long courtship, Hilda acquiesced to his proposal, and they were married February 23, 1882. 

A year later on June 8, 1883 the couple was called on a mission to the Native Americans of Ibapah (Deep Creek), Utah. There she helped teach the native people how to read, write, sew, and farm. After sensing a deep need for medical assistance during the birthing process, Hilda enrolled in courses at Salt Lake’s Women’s Deseret Hospital to study Obstetrics. She returned to Ibapah where a local asked her to pull a tooth since she was medically trained. Hilda knew nothing of the practice, but gave him cocaine and pulled it out. Thus began her career in all forms of medicine. She is rumored to have delivered over two hundred babies. 

After the mission was complete, she and her husband opened “Last Chance Ranch” in 1893, so named because a friend had smugly said the last chance to open a ranch had already passed and there was no way they could be successful. Yet he proved to be incorrect as the store ran until 1946 when Hilda sold it. 

In 1910 Hilda was called as the primary President for the Tooele Stake Primary Association and served in the position for twelve years. 

During the Great Depression, many farms struggled to continue production, so Hilda joined the tootle Company farm Loan Association, serving as Secretary. 

She reports voting in every single election since she became eligible to vote in 1882. 

When asked her thoughts on Lorenzo R Snow’s emphasis on tithing, she replied “yes, each [prophet] had their hobby, you know” though she did add that her husband never smoked nor drank coffee even though “the swedish is great for coffee, ou know, but we didn’t drink very much.” She made no comments on her own adherence to the Word of Wisdom. 

She knew many families involved in polygamy “who appeared to get along well” though her own absence from the practice is notable. 

In 1964 at age 104 Hilda was named Utah’s “sole remaining pioneer immigrant” by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She brags she has traveled by ox team, mule team, horse and buggy, wagon, bicycle, car and airplane, and continued to drive until age 94.  

Hilda attributes her long life to right living, exercise, work, good nutrition, early to bed and early to rise, and a positive attitude. She passed away January 1, 1968 at the ripe age of 108. 

A statue of her astride a horse sits outside Grantsville City Office.