Helen Smith Rabe

Our beloved, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away peacefully on February 18, 2025, at age 95.

Helen Smith Rabe was born September 18, 1929. She is the daughter of Dr. Calvin Schwartz and Lucile Dimond Smith. She is the granddaughter of President Joseph F. Smith. Helen was raised on a farm in Taylorsville, Utah where, along with her 12 siblings, she learned the value of hard work and self-reliance. She was taught the value of education and of music in her home. Each of her siblings could play two musical instruments. Helen played cello and piano. Helen learned how to swim in the Jordan canal which included how to escape undertows and back washes created by the locks in the canal. She excelled at school, music, swimming, and also in sewing. She was a Utah State 4H winner and blue-ribbon winner at the Utah State fair for her sewing and clothing skills. Later in life she won international awards for her clothing designs in doll making contests.

Helen received a bachelor’s degree with honors in Home Economics from the University of Utah, where she met her future husband, Fred Stratford Rabe. They were married June 21, 1950, in the Salt Lake Temple. Fred was a professor at Weber State College, and they raised their five children in Ogden, Utah.

Helen was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She faithfully fulfilled many callings, including her calling as the director of music for LDS Church services at the Dee Hospital, the Old McKay-Dee Hospital, and the current McKay-Dee Hospital for over 40 years.

After raising her small children, she started her career in education, teaching sewing, cooking and English at Ogden High School. While at Ogden High she had the opportunity of teaching many first place award-winning students in the Wool Growers State Clothing Design competition. She designed and sewed costumes for many local theatrical productions. She taught sewing and diving at Weber State College as well. She also taught cello, violin, and piano lessons in her home.

Helen was active in her community. She was well known for playing her cello at many social and memorial services. She was a member of Daughters of Utah Pioneers. As a member of Daughters of the American Revolution she also served as Utah State Regent, Chaplain and Historian. As Chaplain, she had the opportunity to administer the oath of citizenship to new citizens of the US in Utah. Helen served as president and member of Sempre Musicale Music Club. She was also president of the Utah Old Time Fiddlers Association, along with serving in other music and social organizations.

As a young girl Helen was a model for a statue by the famous sculptor, Avard Fairbanks. The original can be seen in the Utah County Courthouse. She was a season ticket holder for the Utah Symphony, Hale Center Theatre, and frequently attended Ballet West and was very active in the arts. She was able to share her musical talent on a tour of Europe. She enjoyed traveling to tour Russia and China and parts of Europe.

At the age of 53, Helen was left a widow. One never to complain of her trials, she moved forward with her life, retiring early from teaching and started her own successful management company, retiring at the age of 86.

Helen continued teaching her talents to future generations. She taught her grandchildren to play the violin, providing them with their own violin and lessons each week, after which she would pay them a dollar.

Helen loved life and good music. She was a noble lady. She wanted to be known by her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren as a “Bridgebuilder”. She was beloved by her friends and family and will be missed dearly.

Surviving are her children, Carolyn Rabe (David) Tinney, Fred Calvin (Betty) Rabe, Marianne Rabe (John) Boshard, Brent Smith (Julie) Rabe, Jeanine Rabe (Jason) Orme. She is survived by 24 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren. Also surviving is one sister, Claudia (Jack) Landro. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Stratford Rabe; her parents, Calvin and Lucile Smith; and all but one of her twelve siblings.

The family would like to thank Stonehenge caretakers for all their kindness and support.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Saturday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park.

Services will be live-streamed and available the day of the services by scrolling to the bottom of Helen’s obituary page at: www.lindquistmortuary.com where condolences may also be shared.