Milton was the eighth of twelve children born to Milton and Henrietta Elizabeth (Sprague) Bean. He married Thelma Catherine Blake in 1918 and they had one son, James Blake.

Dillon Tribune-Examiner, Dillon, Montana
June 17, 1974

Sunny Bean Dies

Milton H. (Sunny) Bean died Sunday evening in Barrett Hospital following an extended illness.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Brundage Chapel with the Rev. Lee Schlothauer officiating. Interment will be in Mountain View Cemetery with American Legion Post No. 20 conducting graveside rites.
Mr. Bean was born Jan. 5, 1896 on his father’s ranch in the Centennial Valley, the eighth child of 12 born to Milton and Henrietta Bean.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Thelma C. Blake June 18, 1918. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1968.
In 1918, he entered the United States Cavalry. He was discharged with a rating of Expert Horseman after serving in the Veterinary Corps, stationed at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.
After his discharge from the Cavalry he worked in the copper mines in Butte for a short time. In 1920 his son Blake was born and after a short try at dry farming near Havre, the family moved back to the Centennial Valley. In 1936 he bought the ranch formerly owned by his wife’s father, the ‘Blake place’ or Forest Hill ranch as it is referred to today.
His valley neighbors appreciated his capable hands whether they held the razor sharp knife at branding time or the violin and bow at the Saturday night dances. His father and his father’s father played the violin. They passed the instrument down to Sunny who continued the musical tradition to the delight of all who heard him play the tunes that came to this cattle country with the early trail herds from Texas.
He will be remembered by his innumerable friends in Southwestern Montana as one of the last of a hardy breed of old-timers; a cowman in the true sense of the word.
Mr. Bean was a long time president of the Red Rock Lakes Cattleman’s Association, a 21-year member of the Dillon Elks Legion Post No. 20 and a member of Veterans of WWI Barracks No. 2599.
Survivors include his widow; his son and daughter-in-law, Mr. And Mrs. Blake Bean of Monterey, Calif.; a granddaughter, Miss Cynde Bean of Eureka, Calif.; two sisters, Mrs. Roberta McDowell of Dillon and Mrs. Rose Noyes of Chinook; four sister-in-laws, Mrs. Annis Bean of Boise, Mrs. Angella Bean of Anaconda, Mrs. Ethel Willoughby and Mrs. Vaneta Palmer, both of Dillon and numerous first, second and third generation nephews and nieces.