Loretta Nereece Nilson Herd

Nereece Herd, 94, completed her earthly journey on Monday, October 20, 2025 surrounded by her loving family. She was a deeply devoted wife, mother, grandmother and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She lived a life of service and devotion and positively impacted all those around her. She had an unshakable testimony of the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel and shared it with everyone around her and had a strong desire for her descendants to keep that testimony alive. Her faith began early particularly through the influence of her mother. She was a lifetime learner, student of church doctrine, and an avid journaler and family historian.

Nereece’s greatest joys in life were her husband of 74 years, Paul Weldon Herd, and spending time with her children and grandchildren, especially holiday gatherings and time spent at ‘the ranch’ up Smithfield Canyon. As grandchildren recounted their favorite memories, many shared about school breaks and summer vacations spent with grandma and grandpa up the canyon. She and Paul went out of their way to create special experiences and memories for those around them and had a deep reverence for the land of her forefathers and foremothers.

She was born in Smithfield, Utah on January 21, 1931 to Samuel Iven Nilson and Nora Estella Hansen Nilson. Nereece and her husband, Paul, were childhood sweethearts and married on September 18, 1947 in Ogden, Utah, and later sealed in the Logan Temple. She was a steadfast and loving mother, raising seven children and being a place of comfort and support for all. Patience, gentleness and kindness were some of her greatest strengths. These strengths were shared with many people throughout her life and she provided shelter, respite, and support to those in need.

At the time of her passing, the “Herd-herd” had grown to 148 direct descendants, including 40 grandchildren, 93 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren. There are many nieces, nephews, spouses and significant others that round out the Herd family, in addition to numerous honorary family members. She took great delight in her posterity and was never happier than when they were gathered.

In addition to being an accomplished church historian, she will be remembered for her delicious homemade Christmas chocolates, her cake-decorating skills and her warm heart.

Nereece had numerous callings in the LDS church and served a mission with her husband in Kirtland, Ohio. In particular, she found great joy in being a primary teacher for the Merry Miss young women and the Articles of Faith were a touchstone throughout her life. Her most cherished calling was being the Spiritual Living teacher where her knowledge of the gospel was deepened through her lesson preparation.

She is survived by her sons, daughters, daughter’s-in-law and son-in-law: Craig Herd, Michael Herd (Laurel), Kevin Herd, Steven Herd (Lani), Sheri Mullins-Stauffer, Mark Graves and Teresa Herd.

Nereece is preceded in death by her husband, Paul, her parents Iven and Nora, her daughter, Cindy, her great-great granddaughter Stella, her four sisters Lawana, Connie, Feryl, and Glade, and her brother Dale.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 25 at 10:30 a.m.

Draper Meetinghouse 

1911 East Gray Fox Drive, Draper, UT 84020

A viewing for friends and family will be held at the Draper Meetinghouse prior to the services from 9:00 - 10:15 a.m.

Virtual funeral services will be available on Zoom beginning at 10:25 a.m.

Nereece Herd Funeral Service Zoom Link

Internment will follow at the Smithfield cemetery.

The family would like to thank our mother’s ward members, Valeo Hospice, and Cannon Mortuary for their kind and compassionate service. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the General Missionary Fund or Humanitarian Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.