S.F. Cross was born January 24, 1920 in Minnesota. He attended schools in Rice County and left school before graduating to help support the family.

On January 2, 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Kodiak, Alaska and the European Theater of Operations with Patton's 3rd Army during WW II. He was transferred to Jamestown, North Dakota for training as an Army Air Corps flight officer, but was discharged before completing the program shortly after WW II due to the military draw down.

Upon his discharge, he returned to his hometown of Faribault, MN and began working as an engineer at a local dairy. It was during this time that he finished his flight training, earning his private pilots license. The first plane he owned was a J3 Cub which he flew locally for years. Later, he bought an Ercoupe which he flew for many years.

He was one of the local founders and officers of the Faribault Pilot's Association. He also was one of the founders of the Rice County Steam and Gas Engines Association.

Smokey has been involved with flying for over 70 years. He still gets his flying magazines and enjoys reading them to see what is new. Over the years, he has flown in many aircraft and even got to take the stick of a Cessna Citation one time.

Although he cannot fly on his own any longer, he still loves to watch the planes do their thing.