Charles Benjamin “Ben” Chaffin was born in Boise, Idaho to George "Rex" Chaffin and Lillian "Dorothy" (Critchell) Chaffin on April 23, 1953.
He was baptized into the Christian faith on May 15, 1955, at the First Methodist Church in Boise, Idaho. Ben spent his early years mostly in Boise with his sister, Tane, and his many cousins. At the age of 7, his traveling days began. His father was in overseas construction for various oil companies, and he took his family with him to multiple countries. Ben spent his youth and young adulthood in Iran, Tripoli Libya, North Africa, Singapore and Indonesia. He developed lifelong friendships with classmates and their siblings at the American Oil Companies School in Tripoli from 1966 thru 1970. He extended his friends to include others from The Singapore American School through 1972.
Ben began working at Kharg Island, Iran, for one of the oil companies that his dad worked for. He told many delightful tales about all of his adventures to all of these places. He was called home to Boise to be at his mom’s side when she ended her fight with lung cancer in 1975. This was a tough time for him as he adored his mom and was not ready to lose her. His cousin, Bill Hart, allowed him to live with him and his young family. They renewed joy in Ben's life and strengthened a bond that was already there.
Ben loved to travel. He was always searching for paradise. He lived for a while in Oakridge, Oregon, where his daughter, Kyla Bradlynn Chaffin, was born. He was a lumberjack and worked at a hardware store owned by his favorite Mom figure, Joan Goodman. When Joan moved to Monterey, he followed and worked for her again as a baker on Cannery Row.
Eventually, he moved back to the Eugene, Oregon, area and met the woman who would change his world. He was looking for paradise in places he didn't know he would find it when he married. Ben married Ellen Coll Kolterman on Aug. 1, 1992. With Ellen's son, Zac Dittmar, they made a unique family. Ben and Ellen lived in a few places in Oregon and Nevada and in 1997 settled in Seward to be close to family. He said he would stay for a year, wasn't even sure he could handle that, but eventually learned to love the beautiful prairie lands and the warm, welcoming people.
Ben was a friend of Bill W. and in his sobriety, he was able to touch the lives of many people. He believed in the 12-step program for all addictions. He loved to talk to people, he knew how to tell a great story and enjoyed hearing about other people. He knew how to make people feel a part of the group.
Ben had a lot of health issues, and his lungs were his worst enemy. He was strong and sure and fought until his body couldn't take it anymore. He transitioned peacefully on July 12, 2024, with his dear daughter and his loving wife by his side.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rex and Dorothy Chaffin; his sister, Tane (Chaffin) Blanchette; his half-sister, Carmen Chaffin; his father-in-law, Donald C. Kolterman and his sister-in-law, Suzanne Kolterman.
He is survived by his wife, Ellen (Kolterman) Chaffin; his daughter, Kyla Moreira; his step-son, Zac Dittmar; grandsons, Quinton Moreira, James Moreira and Eli Moreira; his mother-in-law, Betty Jean Kolterman; his brothers-in-law, Mark Kolterman, Clark (Linda) Kolterman, and Paul (Charlene) Kolterman; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and a host of friends.
The family will receive friends Friday, Aug. 2, from 5 – 7 p.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Seward. A Celebrating of Life will be Saturday, Aug. 3, at 3 p.m. At the Seward Senior Center. Arrangements by Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home.
