Stanley Chester Smith, the youngest of five children, was born at Speedwell Farm near Elnora, Alberta on September 18, 1928. Having lived a long and productive life as a farmer on the same land that had been homesteaded and named by his parents, he passed away of cancer, after a brief stay at St. Mary's Health Care Centre, Covenant Health in Trochu. Stan was just a baby when his father died, but the family held on to the land and thrived through many adventures as Stan and his siblings grew up on the farm. As an adult Stan worked in partnership with his mother, his brother Frank, and his wife Norma whom he married November 15, 1969. Later on Frank's son Stephen joined the partnership; he and his family continue the farming tradition today. Good at repairing farm machinery and keeping it in operating condition, Stan was also a mechanical innovator. He built various machines to help with the farm work, and invented new ones such as a post pounder and a unique lane gate mechanism. From childhood and throughout his life he had an instinctive understanding and love of horses, and enjoyed participating in trail rides as well as gymkhana events such as cutting and roping. Stan was an intensely private man who did not like to draw attention to himself, but in his heart he was keenly interested in others, learned their characters and admired their gifts. He always seemed to know what was going on in the district, in town and with the relatives, although he personally lived a very quiet life. A kind and gentle person, he often gave a helping hand for which he did not seek acknowledgement. He respected the choices of others, but loved to do his own research and enjoyed being able to make his own decisions. One of those was to host a family gathering in July, 2015, to help the younger members of the family get to know one another. He believed in the strength and unity of the family. Stan was predeceased by his parents Gordon and Ethel (McCracken) Smith, brother Burt Smith and sister Dorothy Willison, and wife Norma (Barr). He is survived by brothers Robert and Frank Smith, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families. Memories of Stan and condolences to the family will be welcomed at prairiecrocus@hotmail.com.