Sarah was born on the 4th of July in 1885 in Parowan, Utah. Her parents are Hans Jorgen Pedersen Mortensen and Jane Elizabeth Holyoak. Her father was born in Denmark, joined the LDS Church at age 18 and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1856. They were members of the Willie Handcart Company. The family was quite well off in Denmark but as soon as the word got out they were Mormons the persecution began and plans were made to go to Utah.

Sarah's grandfather, Peder Mortensen, was crippled with rheumatism and the oldest daughter was crippled also. The family had thought to have all the older boys to help and the money to buy a team and a wagon. Instead, the oldest son was asked to stay in Denmark for a year and Peder was asked to share his resources with the poor and take the family to Zion by handcart. They were promised that if every member of the family stayed faithful, they would all make it to Utah. They suffered all the hardships of the Willie Handcart Company and they all made it through. It is an inspiring story.

A nephew said of Sarah's father, Hans: "Uncle Hans was of a very lively disposition; agreeable in company; always ready to do his part for entertainment; quick tempered and quick to get over a spell of temper, a member of the choir, a good bass singer; a scientific caller for dances; a good cornet player; a member of the bishopric of Parowan for several years; [and] always thought well of wherever acquainted."

Sarah's mother, Jane, was of English descent. Her parents had married in England and immigrated to the United States with Jane's father's family. They landed in New Orleans, went up the Mississippi to St. Louis and then on to St. Joseph. They stayed in Missouri for three years arriving in Salt Lake in 1854. Jane was born in Missouri and traveled across the plains as a toddler. Both the Holyoaks and the Mortensens settled in Parowan, Utah. It was there that Hans met Jane and they married in St. George on November 25, 1880.

Hans' first wife had died leaving seven living children. Jane gave him three more. Sarah was the youngest and her mother died three months after her birth. Shortly after her mother's death Jane became very ill. Her father couldn't care for her so he carried her in her cradle to her Holyoak grandparents. William and Sarah cared for her as if she were their own child.

Sarah's grandparents were still living when she married Richard Edward Rowley April 2, 1908 in St. George, Utah. Richard died in November that year and Sarah gave birth to her daughter, Edwardeen, in February 1909.

On September 10, 1912 in St. George, Utah Sarah married Heber Charles Rowley. They became the parents of five children: Rinda, Arvel Mortensen, Lorin Hans, Beth, and Hilda. They also raised Sarah's daughter from her first marriage and Heber's two children from his first marriage. In 1928 Heber died of pneumonia brought on from fractured ribs he received in an automobile accident. Sarah still had young children at home. She continued living in Provo until her death in 1958 at age 73.