Mabel was born in a three-room log cabin in Ferron, Utah. She moved with her family to Ogden then to Willard, Utah, where her father was foreman of a large ranch. Later they moved to Logan to be near their grandfather, Joseph Smith Redford, living in a two-room house near the Logan River. Mabel went often with her father to the college dairy farm where he worked. After two years in Logan the family moved to Uintah Basin, traveling in a covered wagon, trailing a buggy behind loaded with the meager household furnishings. They lived in tents the first winter, sleeping in one and cooking in the other. During Mabel's early life, in the evening the children would kneel by their mother's knee as she sang to them.

They had to haul water from Lake Fork Rivers sixteen miles away. Their washings were done on the board, taking all day. A one-room church was built and also used as a school house. In 1915 Mabel started school but when winter came with snow four feet deep, her schooling was neglected. She became a pal to her father, helping him with chores and going fishing with him. As she grew older she went out to do house work and clerking in a store. She met Norman Edward Smith while working at Price. They were married 20 Feb 1928 in Price, Carbon, Utah.
They lived at Kenilworth, Utah. He was a coal miner. They had one son and four daughters.

After their marriage Mabel and Norman went to Colorado to work in the mines. While here they were exploring an old mine, but were prompted to leave. They barely got outside when the whole entrance caved in. They returned to Utah to make their home. When the boy was 12 years old Norman died 29 August 1961. Mabel worked and raised her son and one daughter that were still at home.
She devoted her life in service to her family; she had filled many positions in the church organizations.

Mabel then later married Leland Martin Rich 1 May 1964 at Salt Lake City, Utah. Mabel and her second husband, Leland, spent nine happy years together doing temple work, fishing and helping their families. After his death, she was still devoting her life to others.

Mabel and Norman Edward Smith had the following children; Anita Jean (Huff), Ined LaRae (Hansen, Johnson), Enid LaRae (Labrum), Charlotte Ann (Freeman), Glenis Leon and Joan Smith

(Information has been gathered from several sources, so some of it may not be correct)