Benjamin Chiles Harned passed away on December 24, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 90. As he jokingly said, “Had I known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.”

Born in Sedalia, Missouri, to Job Harned and Sara Chiles Harned, Ben experienced early loss when his mother passed away giving birth to his triplet sisters. While those early years shaped him, his world truly centered on the family he later built with his wife, Christa; they were his greatest pride.

After graduating from the University of Missouri, Ben served our country as an officer in the Army. His subsequent career with Merrill Lynch took him across the continent. After training in New York City and working in Chicago, he was tapped at a young age to open the firm’s branch in Montreal, Canada. He eventually settled in Tulsa, where he became the legendary manager of the local office. Known for his integrity and mentorship, many of the professionals Ben hired and mentored remain with the firm today.

Ben embraced life with adventure and curiosity. He owned countless Harleys and took month-long rides with Christa, including an epic journey from Tulsa to Alaska. In later years, they continued their travels in a Sprinter van alongside close friends. Having learned to ski in Canada, Ben loved the mountains and cherished decades of family gatherings in Crested Butte, Colorado. He taught his grandchildren to fish, ride motorcycles, and appreciate the outdoors.

Clever and quietly funny, Ben lived a life of understated impact with his many random acts of kindness, always helping wherever he saw a need. He loved fishing, golf with his lifelong group the “Fore Players,” reading voraciously, and planning family vacations. Above all, Ben loved Christa. Married for 64 years, they had each other—and that was all they ever needed.

He is survived by his wife, Christa Harned; children Greg and Andre Harned, Margie and Peter Diaz, and Becca and Todd Lang; grandchildren Sydney and Logan Harned, Natalie, Audrey, and Garrett Warren, Tucker and Tori Lang, Annie and Mikey Sutton, and Liza and Grant McPherson; great-grandchildren Alex and Josie Lang, Sylvie and Juliet Sutton, and Salem McPherson; and sisters Nancy Miller and Carrolee Desowitz. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sara Harned.

The family will gather at a later date to scatter his ashes in Crested Butte, Colorado. In lieu of flowers or donations, the family asks that you consider a random act of kindness in Ben's honor.

Ninde Funeral & Cremation | (918) 742-5556 | ninde.com