LeAnn Poland Truesdale, 39, passed away April 24, 2002, in Henderson, Nev.

She was born Sept. 3, 1962, in Everett, Wash., to Gary and MaryLynn Poland.

LeAnn filled her brief 39 years with a lifetime of awards and accomplishments. After completing undergraduate work at the University of California Irvine in 1984, she went on to complete a master’s degree in biochemistry in 1988, then graduated with distinction from Loma Linda School of Dentistry in 1990, having been awarded several honors in periodontalogy and in oral pathology. While pursuing these degrees, she was a member of the American Association of Women Dentists, the American Dental Student Association, and the Dental Honor Society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon.

Immediately following graduation, she began working in the field of dentistry, eventually partnering a practice with her husband, Terry Truesdale, in southeast Las Vegas. During her 12 years of dental practice, LeAnn was actively involved in community service and in various professional organizations. Her greatest concern was for the health and well being of children; for this reason, she devoted much of her time to several organizations that focus on the needs of underserved children in Clark County.

A member of several professional organizations, including the American and Nevada Dental Associations, the Junior League of Las Vegas, and the Southern Nevada Dental Society, for which she served a one-year term as president (1998-1999), LeAnn remained an active participant in the field of dentistry. For this involvement she received countless honors from such organizations as Community Health Services of Southern Nevada, the U.S. Congress (special recognition for underserved children’s dental health), the Southern Nevada Dental Society, the Junior League of Las Vegas, and the U.S. Public Health Service. She also published several articles in scientific journals on her research in chemotherapeutic medicine.

LeAnn entered the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Law in the fall of 1998. She had completed course work and was set to graduate in May. In 1999 she interned as a law clerk in the law offices of Curran and Parry. After graduation she planned to obtain a part-time associateship with a patent law firm in Las Vegas. In 2001 she received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Constitutional Law II.

LeAnn was married to her husband Terry for almost 14 years, and they enjoyed spending time with family and friends — as well as with their two dogs, Jackie and Ski-doo. They shared interests in boxing, running and skiing, among other things, and she enjoyed reading and cooking.

She is survived by her husband, Terry Truesdale of Henderson, Nev.; parents Gary and MaryLynn Poland of Clinton; two sisters, Carol Poland of Laguna, Calif., and Elizabeth and husband Brook Merrow of Langley; and nieces Hannah, Sarah, Leah and Rebekah Merrow.

A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. May 4 at Clinton Cemetery, under the direction of Pastor Matt Chambers and Pastor Bob Welch. She left a personalized monument in every heart she touched. Arrangements are under the direction of Visser Funeral Home, Langley.