More detail on this person: Maj. Gen. Roger K.
Bean (US Army, retired) was born on July 17, 1940
in Yakima, Washington to the late Art and Hazel
Bean. He passed away on June 13, 2009 in Tomah,
Wis. after a 30-year battle with Parkinson's
disease. He graduated from Cheney High School,
class of 1958. Commissioned through ROTC, he
graduated from Eastern Washington State College
in 1962 and went on to earn his Master's Degree in
International Relations from the University of
Alabama. He later graduated from the Air War
College. Gen. Bean's distinguished 32-year Army
career included multiple duty stations throughout
the U.S., Asia, and Germany. This included two
combat tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot, two
assignments at the Pentagon, Commander of
Division Artillery and Chief of Staff of the 3rd
Infantry Division, Commanding General of the 56th
Field Artillery Command (Pershing), and Deputy
Commanding General of US Army Pacific. During
Desert Storm, General Bean was Acting
Commanding General of VII Corps.
Gen. Bean's valiant service to his country was
recognized with decorations including the
Distinguished Service Medal with first oak leaf
cluster, the Legion of Merit with first oak leaf
cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross with first
oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star, the Purple
Heart with first oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious
Service Medal with first oak leaf cluster, 47 Air
Medals, three with valor, and the Army
Commendation Medal with third oak leaf cluster.
Roger's love for his country was second only to
his love and dedication to his family. He is
survived by his wife of 42 years, Criss (Cornell)
Bean of Fond du Lac, Wis.. He is also survived by
his daughters and sons-in-law, Shannon and Marty
Olson of Wausau Wis.; and Sarah and Jeff Brady of
Maple Valley, Wash.; by his four beloved
grandchildren, Eric and Tim Olson and Ryan and
Lulu Brady; and by his sister and brother-in-law
Sue and Cliff Ferguson of Cheney, Wash.
Roger was known for his quick wit, fearlessness,
and love of adventure. All who knew him knew of
his love for flying, whether it was helicopters,
powered parachutes, or gliders. He embraced life
with high expectations and led each step of the
way by example. Roger loved to be the solver of
problems and the helper of those in need. He
accomplished any task at hand with passion,
whether it was leading his troops or snow blowing
the neighborhood at the crack of dawn. Roger's
reputation for "accomplishing more before 8 a.m.
than most people got done all day" was one of
which he was proud.
It has been commented by the soldiers that served
closely under him that General Bean's leadership
style brought out in them the desire to perform
their duties in a manner that went far beyond the
standards required. Rooted in the ultimate form of
respect, their desire was to perform in a way that
would never cause General Bean to become
disappointed in them or ever let him down in
anyway. It is that type of rare leadership that
has made a significant difference in America's
military history.
Gen. Bean will be buried at Arlington National
Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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