Leah Ann Odegard, 51

Leah Ann Odegard, 51, of Port Orchard, Wash., died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005, of complications from breast cancer.

Leah Ann was born in Kalispell to Pat and Ken Odegard on Nov. 24, 1953. She graduated from Flathead High School in 1971, and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business from Montana State University in 1976.

In 1977, she was married to David Deems Lewis in her hometown of Kalispell.

Leah Ann worked as an accountant not only for the CPA firm of Knutson, Trolson, and Fargher in Lakewood, Wash., but she was also self-employed as an accountant.

Leah Ann had many extra-curricular activities outside of work. Not only was she a full-time mother of two, but she also volunteered for many different organizations. She was actively involved with the Children's Hospital Guild of Seattle for over 20 years. Leah Ann also volunteered for her daughters' elementary school, Mullenix Ridge Elementary for over six years; she started a morning computer class called the Tech-Team and also taught typing classes throughout the day to many students. She also volunteered in the Strawberry Hill Homeowners Association, where she worked to change the front of the neighborhood; and South Kitsap Citizens for Quality Education, where she worked to better the South Kitsap School district. Leah Ann was also heavily involved in her daughter's dance school, Just for Kicks.

In May of 2001, when Leah Ann learned that she had breast cancer, she started to volunteer for the Breast Cancer Research Center in Tacoma, Wash.

Everyone that knew Leah Ann thought she was a joy to be around. She was a very strong and devoted individual who was always singing and laughing. Leah Ann was a loving mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend. She would be there for someone, no matter what. She will be greatly missed by everyone that has had the privilege to meet this wonderful lady.

Surviving are her husband, David Deems Lewis; her two daughters, Adrienne Renee Lewis, who is currently a student at Eastern Washington University, and Allison Rachel Lewis, who is currently a student at University of Idaho; two sisters, Carol Jean Waugh of Arapahoe, Colo., and Susan Marie Odegard-Fellows of Las Vegas; two brothers, Kenneth Eugene Odegard of Las Vegas, and Thomas Allan Odegard of Albuquerque, N.M., and her parents, Pat and Ken Odegard, and grandmother, Jewell Bellmore, all of Kalispell.

Memorial services will be held at Bible Baptist Church in Port Orchard, Wash., at 4:30 p.m. Thursday with a reception to follow. An online memorial for Leah Ann can be viewed and signed at www.rill.com.

Memorial donations can be made in Leah Ann's name to the Breast Cancer Resource Center, 3502 South 12th St., Tacoma, WA 98405; or Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, c/o Marlene Barber, 10086 Misery Point Road, Seabeck, WA 98380. (Please make checks out to Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center.)