Lasting Memories

Kimberly Smith-Nilsson
May 22, 1957-Feb. 23, 2016
Mountain View, California
Submitted by Thea Smith-Nilsson

In a life filled with love and service, the Rev. Kimberly Smith-Nilsson always said her greatest joy was the family she created with her high school sweetheart, Alan Nilsson. The couple married on July 27, 1980 at the United Church in Los Alamos, NM, where Kim would later be ordained into the United Church of Christ. Kim received her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and taught special education for two years. After graduating from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA, in 1984, she began a career in ministry. Her two daughters, Thea and Johanna, were raised in Mountain View, while Kim served as a chaplain at Stanford Children’s Hospital and as an associate pastor at Alum Rock United Methodist Church in San Jose and then Trinity United Methodist Church in Mountain View. Kim was instrumental in starting a parent-cooperative school in Mountain View, which her daughter Johanna later attended. She trained as an interim pastor and also trained as a spiritual director, graduating from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 2007. She graduated from Leadership Mountain View, an intensive training program for community leaders, in 2003. She also worked at Kyros Ministry and at the Center for Abuse Prevention. “Kim lived a big life. Her connections were many and they were sincere,” her sister Kelly said. “Each person felt their connection was special.” “She was always wise. She made the world a better place,” said her mother Joann. Kim ministered to mentally ill men in the Santa Clara County jail, and entered Juvenile Detention Ministry as part of her service as chaplain to First Church of Redwood City, UCC, where she served until her death. Kim is survived by her husband Alan, daughters Thea and Johanna, all of Mountain View, mother Joann and stepfather Don Brown of Los Alamos, NM, sister and brother-in-law Kelly and Steve Myers of Los Alamos; sisters- and brothers-in-law Karen and Dennis Brandt of Los Alamos, Jan and Jim Childers of Espanola, NM; niece Emma Myers and nephews Jim Myers and Jay Parkhill; step-siblings Eric Brown of Christchurch, New Zealand, and Shelley Newman of Woodland, CA; and cousins Carolyn Busch and Elizabeth Edlund of Mountain View, CA. She was preceded in death by her father Duane Smith. Kim was born in Loup City, NE, on May 22, 1957. She died of cancer at home in Mountain View, CA, on February 23, 2016, surrounded by her family. Kim’s love and compassion continue to thrive in the relationships and communities she created.