Ouida Larsen celebrated her 100th birthday May 29 with family and friends.By Linda Ward
Special to the Arizona Daily Star
TUCSON, Arizona (Arizona Daily Star), June 12, 2008:
On May 29, family and friends helped Ouida Larsen blow out 100 candles on her birthday cake.
Born on her grandparents' farm near Warsaw, Ind., she is the eldest of four girls and grew up in Chicago.
After she married Haakon Larsen, they moved to North Webster, Ind., where they raised me and my sister. They owned and operated several businesses through the 1950s: a sporting-goods store; antique shop; nine-hole golf course and the area's first shopping center.
My parents moved to Bisbee in 1963 to manage the Phelps Dodge Country Club in Naco and later bought the Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Tombstone.
Since my father's death in 1968 and up until two years ago, my mom lived with me and my family, currently residing in Oro Valley.
Ouida attributes her long, healthy life to not going to the doctor for every ache.
The only surgery she's had was outpatient cataract surgery, and she was hospitalized only twice, for the births of me and my sister Terry.
Her advice for living a long life is to stay busy, have a dog, plant a garden, brush and floss after every meal, and don't drink or smoke.
More importantly, she advises, cherish your family and friends and trust in the Lord.
She has been a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and received her 75-year membership pin from the Order of the Eastern Star last year.
She resides at the Aguilera Adult Assisted Living Home on the Northwest Side.
Copyright © 2008
