Our Staff

Alex Rydell, owner and licensed funeral director at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, has dedicated his career to guiding families through one of life’s most difficult moments. A Fargo native, Alex has been compassionately serving the community since 2007, helping families create meaningful tributes that honor their loved ones in personal and heartfelt ways. His passion lies in bringing people together, fostering support, and ensuring that every life is celebrated with dignity and purpose.

A graduate of Fargo North High School, Alex first pursued a music degree at St. Olaf College before discovering his true calling in funeral service. He continued his education at the University of North Dakota and later earned his Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota in 2007.

Though funeral service is his vocation, music remains a vital part of Alex’s life. He plays fiddle in the local Irish band Poitín and is an active musician at First Lutheran and Hope Lutheran Churches. His love for both music and ministry fuels his deep commitment to serving others, whether through song or by walking alongside families in their time of need.

Beyond his work at Hanson-Runsvold, Alex is dedicated to strengthening the community. He has served for many years on the board of the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association, including as past president, and contributes his time to organizations such as Hope Blooms, FM Area Youth Symphonies, and Soul Solutions Recovery Center.

At home in North Fargo, Alex cherishes time with his wife, Rebecca, their son, Brady, and stepchildren, Ruby and Henley. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Fargo-Moorhead community and remains committed to providing compassionate care and meaningful remembrance for every family he serves.

Jacques Boucher, Licensed Funeral Director at Hanson-Runsvold received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis in 1996 after careers in law enforcement and Emergency Medical Services. He worked in Detroit Lakes for two years before joining the Hanson-Runsvold staff in 1998.

Simone grew up in Minneapolis, MN, where she graduated from Patrick Henry High School in 2013. She attended the University of Minnesota and graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science in 2019. She completed her internship in Breckenridge, MN, and worked in Wahpeton, ND, before moving to Fargo, ND, in 2022.

Before entering the mortuary science program, Simone served as a Petroleum Supply Sergeant in the Minnesota Army National Guard. She earned second place in the MN state Best Warrior Competition and graduated on the Commandant’s List with honors from the Basic Leaders Course in Fort Dix, NJ. Simone was honorably discharged in 2022.

Simone has always been passionate about working with animals. She is a certified dog trainer and volunteers at 4 Luv of Dog Rescue in Moorhead, MN. Her goals have continuously been to incorporate animals within funeral service and is looking forward to utilizing her skills to do so in Fargo.

Brett is a funeral director with Hanson Runsvold Funeral Home; she has been with the company since 2019 and graduated from the Pittsburg Institute of Mortuary Science in 2023.

Brett is originally from Brandon, Minnesota, graduating from Brandon-Evansville Highschool in 2017. She moved to Fargo in 2019 to attend Rasmussen College of Nursing.

When the Covid-19 pandemic started, she made a career change and joined the team at Hanson-Runsvold, where she found her calling in funeral service.

In her free time, she enjoys camping and spending time outdoors, working on a watercolor painting, or hanging out with her two sphynx cats.

Miranda (Mastrud) Lavelle was born and raised in Fargo, ND. The daughter of the late Patsy Evenson and the late Leslie “Pinky” Mastrud, she is a graduate of Fargo North High in 2000. She continued her education at NDSU and Minnesota State University – Moorhead, earning a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.

Miranda married her husband, Zach Lavelle in 2010 in New Town, ND. They make their home not far away from the funeral home on the Red River by Lindenwood Park. They love to travel the world, work on home projects, play with their brood of animals, go to concerts and comedy shows, and running their woodworking studio. Miranda has also found her passion for old Volkswagen cars! You might see her in her 1971 Super Beetle, Buttercup, or her yellow 1982 Kombi Camper Van, Little Miss Sunshine.

In 2016, Miranda started working at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home as a night attendant. She soon realized she found her true calling of working with families in their time of need. She attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, graduating in 2020 with an associate’s degree in Specialized Technology (Funeral Service Arts and Sciences) and was licensed as a funeral director in 2022.

John Runsvold, licensed funeral director, and previous owner of Hanson-Runsvold, grew up in Fargo and graduated Fargo North High School in 1971. John attended North Dakota State University, for two years, before graduating from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, with a B.S. degree in Mortuary Science. In 1975, he joined his grandfather Joseph, his father James, and Neal Bradburn at Hanson-Runsvold. John and his wife, Cydney, owned the funeral home from 1982 to 2024.

John is active in the F/M community, including past president of the Fargo-Moorhead Sertoma Club, past Master of East Gate Masonic Lodge and past president of Hospice of the Red River Valley. He is active in First Lutheran Church, including past president of the foundation, past chairman of the television committee, past member of the properties committee, the church council and youth committee. He also served on the University Lutheran Center Board at North Dakota State University. In 2013 he was inducted into the Fargo North Hall of Fame and was named Honorary Chairman of the North Dakota Open. John is currently involved with the Fargo/Moorhead Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Group.

John has been active on the state level serving as Southeast District Governor and past President of the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. He served the state of North Dakota as a member of the North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service for ten years, and is a past president of that board.

He has been involved on the national level with the National Funeral Directors Association, serving on the audit and pursuit of excellence committees. He served on the national board exam, by-law, executive, international and education committees of the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. He is past district governor and past president of that board. He served on the Committee on Accreditation of the American Board of Funeral Service Education and is a former member of their by-law and curriculum review committees. John also served on the American Red Cross Tissue Donation Liaison Committee.

John and his wife Cydney have a son, Jordan (Jeny) Runsvold; two daughters, Rachel Blankenship and Lauren (Jay) Siebels; and 6 grandchildren, Emily and Jack Runsvold, Jett and Lillian Blankenship and Emmett and Harper Siebels. John and Cyd make their home in Fargo.

Keith joined the Hanson-Runsvold team in September of 2014. He and his wife, Pat, relocated to Fargo, ND from Dickinson, ND upon Keith retiring from Job Service ND after 36 years of service. He wanted to continue working with people in a professional manner and Hanson-Runsvold afforded him the opportunity to do just that.