Our Staff

Mark Roth

Owner/Licensed Funeral Director

Licensed Funeral Director/President
Mark Roth, a native of Napoleon, ND, has been a licensed funeral director since September 2003.

Mark graduated from Napoleon High School in 1999. He attended Minot State University from 1999-2001. In August of 2002, Mark graduated with honors from Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, CO with an Applied Science Associates Degree in Funeral Service.

Mark has been a longtime employee of the funeral home starting as an student intern in the summer of 2000. In January 2017, Mark joined Brad and Bryan Thomas as a partner of the firm.

During his spare time, Mark stays active in various sports activities in Minot including league basketball, hunting, and fishing. He enjoys supporting his children's activities in Des Lacs Burlington.

Mark is a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Burlington and the Optimist Club of Minot.

Mark's family includes: Wife: Allison; Daughters: Kyley and Madison Lauf; Son: Lincoln Roth; Brothers: William (Tara) Kleppe of Orr, MN and Matthew (Teresa) Roth of Napoleon; Sister: Patricia (Mike) Anderson of Plymouth, MN and nephews, Chase and Davis Kleppe, Erik Anderson and Levi and Brody Hastings.

Bradley J. Thomas

Owner/Licensed Funeral Director

Licensed Funeral Director/Vice President
Bradley J. Thomas, a lifelong Minot resident, graduated from Minot High School in 1977. He graduated from North Dakota State University in Fargo in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and Minors in Business and Chemistry and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota in 1984. Brad has completed a specialized course of continuing education and training and was formerly a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP).

Following the completion of his education, Brad returned to Minot in the summer of 1984 to assist his father in the operation of the funeral home. He completed his apprenticeship and was awarded his license in 1985. Brad married the former Jacqueline Hight of Minot on August 1, 1987 at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Minot. He is a member and former Elder of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church. Brad is a past president of the Minot Curling Club and served on the Boards of Directors of the local, state and national curling associations. He is a two-time state champion in mixed curling. He served three terms as the Northwest District Governor for the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors and was Chairman of the Legislative Committee when the Prepaid Funeral Account Asset Exemption for Medicaid recipients was greatly increased. He also is a member of the Moose Lodge and Minot Lions Club where he has served as the Sight Assistance Committee Chairperson for more than 25 years and was recently named a Melvin Jones Award Recipient.

On the baseball field, Brad was a member of Minot’s first ND State American Legion Baseball Championship team in 1977 and the Minot High School team was undefeated that same year. While at NDSU Brad was co-captain of the team in 1981, received academic all-conference honors in 1980 and 1981 and set or tied records for hits, doubles and triples in a season. He was a charter member of the Magic City Youth Baseball Board of Directors, coached the Minot Metros Junior Legion team from 1980 to 1983 and coached in the youth program for two years. He was inducted into the Minot Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016. More recently, he can be found on a regular basis in the exercise area of the Y.M.C.A.

Bryan D. Thomas

Licensed Funeral Director (Retired)

Licensed Funeral Director
Bryan Thomas graduated from Minot High School in 1978. He graduated with a B.S. degree in Social Sciences from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. He then taught and coached Varsity Tennis and Junior High School Basketball for three years at Bishop Ryan High School in Minot. He graduated from Mount Hood College of Mortuary Science in Portland, Oregon and joined his father and brother in the operation of the funeral home in 1989. He served on the Board of Directors of the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association, prior to serving as President of the association in 1999-2000. He and his wife, the former Sue Spengler, have four children and three grandchildren.

Bryan and his family are members at Our Redeemer's Church, Minot, where he sings in the church choir. He is a member of the Minot Rotary Club, a former member of the Minot State University Beaver Boosters Athletic Board, and is an active supporter of local Youth For Christ activities. Bryan currently serves on the Our Redeemer's Christian School Foundation (ORCSF) Board of Directors, has served as the President of the Minot Area Tennis Association for the past 13 years, and was a member of the committee which rebuilt Hammond Park in 2013-2014. He is a member of the Academy of Funeral Service Practitioners and received his CFSP (Certified Funeral Service Practitioner's) designation in 2004. He is well known in Minot for speaking to groups and agencies on funeral related topics.

Bryan has been active in the promotion of numerous athletic activities including golf, tennis, baseball and basketball. He has played on and coached several teams, and has participated on numerous committees to enhance sporting events in the Minot area.

Jessica (Opland) Carpenter

Office Administrator/Licensed Funeral Director

Jessica (Opland) Carpenter is one of our Licensed Funeral Directors and has been a member of the Thomas Family Funeral Home’s professional staff since 2011. She is a Des Lacs, North Dakota native and graduate of Des Lacs Burlington High School. Jessica graduated from Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado with a degree in mortuary science. Prior to employment at the funeral home, she worked at Brentmoor Assisted Living as a medical aide and at Trinity Hospital as a CNA.

Jessica is married to Brady who served in the United States Air Force. They added to their family with the birth of their daughters, Hadley in February 2015 and Lucille "Lucy" in November 2018. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, camping and pontooning, watching Minnesota Vikings football and her cats Barley and Sylvester.

Jessica is a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot, where she serves as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector and Commentator. She is a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Minot.

Jessica's parents are Doug and Debbie Opland, Des Lacs. She also has two sisters: Ashley Opland, Minot and Chelsey Opland, Minot.

Jessica enjoys working at Thomas Family Funeral Home and says, “I truly enjoy what I do; it is an honor to help families with the loss of a loved one.”

Brett Davis

Licensed Funeral Director

Brett Davis joined the Thomas Family Funeral Home staff in spring 2019 as a funeral assistant, a position that started out as a part-time job during college and developed into a full-time calling.

Brett, a lifelong Minot resident, graduated from Minot High School in the class of 2018. During his time as a Magician, Brett was heavily involved in athletics, competing in Football, Hockey, Track, and Baseball. During his senior year, Brett signed with the Minot State Beavers (NCAA DII) to continue his athletic career playing football.

Brett graduated from Minot State University in the class of 2022 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and Marketing. During His time at Minot State, he was involved in Beaver Football, MSU Chi Alpha, CRU, and Entrepreneurship Club. Brett also served as the Minot State Hockey team student manager during the 2021-2022 season.

Following Minot State, Brett enrolled in Mortuary School at the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. He lived in Texas while attending class and served an apprenticeship at the Wade Funeral Home in Arlington, TX. He graduated mortuary school in September of 2023, and moved back to Minot shortly after. Brett then gained licensure in the state of North Dakota and returned to Thomas Funeral Home to begin a full-time position.

In his free time, Brett enjoys attending sporting events, hunting, fishing, golfing and spending time with family at the lake. Brett is the son of Ryan and Brenda Davis, along with two younger sisters, Teya and Maryn. Brett is a member at Journey Church in Minot.

Zachary Martin

Licensed Funeral Director

Jackie Thomas

Certified Preplanning Consultant

Jacqueline Thomas has been the Thomas Family Funeral Home Certified Preplanning Consultant since 1999. She was born and reared in Minot and is the eldest daughter of LaVerne and Patricia Hight. Members of the Hight family own and operate Hight Construction in Minot. Jackie graduated from Minot High School in 1983 and from Minot State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. She is the wife of Brad, whom she married on August 1, 1987.

Jackie successfully completed an intensive training program under the auspices of the National Funeral Directors Association to become a certified preplanning consultant (C.P.C.). This special designation requires adherence to special guidelines and annual continuing education requirements. Jackie is the only fulltime practicing C.P.C. in North Dakota. Her availability shows the Thomas’ commitment to education so that our client families have all the information they need to make informed choices. Jackie was a featured author of the chapter “Preneed in Rural America” in the book “The Complete Guide to Preplanning” by Dan Isard.

An excellent musician, Jackie has been involved in the music ministry at all of the Catholic churches in Minot as a flutist, pianist, vocalist and organist. She is a member of St. Leo’s Catholic Church where she serves as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector. She is a recipient of the “Woman of Distinction” Award from the Young Womens Christian Association (Y.W.C.A.) - Minot. Jackie is a former member of the Minot Curling Club and the North Dakota Curling Association Board of Directors serving as state treasurer for nine years. She was a member of three state championship curling teams and participated twice in the U.S. Olympic Curling Trials. In addition, she is a member of the Minot State University Board of Regents and currently serves as a board member for the Minot Area Community Foundation.

Sue Thomas

Aftercare Coordinator

Susan Thomas lived in Minto, ND before her family moved to a farm near Thief River Falls, Minnesota. She graduated from Lincoln High School and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

While at UND, Sue met Bryan Thomas and they were married in 1982. They lived in Fessenden, ND shortly after graduating from college. At the time, Sue was a social worker for Wells County.

After moving to Minot, Sue was employed as a Program Assistant at the Minot Vocational Adjustment Workshop. She also was previously employed at Catholic Charities of Minot where she worked with adoptions and counseling unwed parents.

Because family is of utmost importance to her, Sue stayed home raising their four children for the next 16 years. Their daughters are married and live in Fargo. Their two sons live in Minot. Sue and Bryan are the proud grandparents of three grandchildren who live in Fargo.

Sue and Bryan are active members and involved in Our Redeemer's Church where she offers a grief care group. Previously, she has served on the Youth For Christ Board of Directors, MOPS Steering Committee, and the National Day Of Prayer. They expanded their family circle by opening their home to a Rotary foreign exchange student, Catalina, from Argentina in August of 2006.

Sue officially became the Thomas Family Funeral Home Aftercare Coordinator in January of 2005. Her interest in personally helping the bereaved began years before while dealing with the emotional heartache of losing her older brother to cancer when he was 16 (she was 14 years old at the time of his death).

Realizing that the funeral or memorial service is really only the beginning of the healing process, is what motivates her to sit down one-on-one with the families that we serve and see what kind of further support and caring we could provide during this difficult time.

Charlsie Burud

Student Intern

Charlsie has been employed as a funeral assistant since 2020. She is a Minot native and graduate of Minot High School, class of 2003.

Charlsie is a full time Real Estate Agent.

She is passionate in giving back to her community through various organizations. She is currently on the KW Inspire Realty Leadership Council, Vice President of Church Council at Zion Lutheran Church and also a shepherd for the first grade Wednesday Bible School at Zion Lutheran. She is also a member of the Minot Board of Realtors, Minot Downtown Professionals Association, and Minot Chamber of Commerce. She is also heavily involved with volunteering for her children's activities and events.

Charlsie is married to Brad Burud. Together they have three beautiful children: Jagger, Kenadee and Laikyn, and their family dog, Ziggy. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, chasing her kids to their activities and traveling.

Charlsie’s parents are Craig & Brenda Benson of Minot. She also has two siblings: sister, Natosha Gartner and family, and brother, Jersey Benson and family.

John Gross

Funeral Assistant

John Gross has been a funeral assistant with Thomas Family Funeral Home since January 2025.

John is retired U.S. Air Force and currently resides in Minot.

Merlin Allerdings

Funeral Assistant

Merlin Allerdings began working as a funeral assistant with the Thomas Family Funeral Home staff in March of 2018. Prior to his employment at the funeral home he worked in the airline industry for Frontier and Northwest Airlines for 36 years and as a surveyor for KLJ for 8 ½ years.

Merlin, and his wife Bonnie, are members of Our Redeemer’s Church in Minot where he serves on several ministry boards. They have one son and three grandchildren.

Merlin says working with families experiencing the loss of a loved one is a calling and he enjoys serving and caring for families in their time of sorrow.

Bob Sundberg

Funeral Assistant

Bob Sundberg serves families who call upon Thomas Family Funeral Home as a funeral assistant. He has been a part of our professional, caring staff since November 2012.

Bob was a longtime teacher and football coach in North Dakota, spending several of his years with the Minot Public Schools and Minot State University.

Bob is a member of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, and enjoys going to local athletic events, golfing and fishing, singing, and woodworking. He is also a member of the Nodakords, a vocal music group.

Bob’s family includes his wife Linda, daughters Nancy and Rebecca, and son Michael (deceased).

Bob says he enjoys working with the staff, and serving families and friends, many of whom he knows.

David Zimmerman

Funeral Assistant

David Zimmerman has joined our staff in 2020 after helping for a couple summers in the 1980's. David considers it a sacred duty to help families celebrate a life lived and to help families heal after experiencing loss and to serve with compassion and dignity.

David was born and raised in Minot. He graduated from Minot High School in 1984. He was very active in tennis, hockey, and baseball. He was the state high school tennis doubles champion in 1983 along an honorable mention All-America award. David was inducted to the MHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. Also played college tennis at UND and graduated in 1989 with a B.S. in Education. David has been teaching deaf/hard of hearing students for 31 years at NDSD in Devils Lake.

He also coached tennis at Bishop Ryan for 2 years before moving to Devils Lake. David has coached hockey at Devils Lake High School as Head coach and assistant coach for combined 15 years. He also has coached hockey in Grand Forks, Minot, and Devils Lake. David is very involved with Deaf Hockey and has assisted the USA Deaf Hockey team to 3 gold medals. He is the Northern Plains District Disabled Hockey representative for USA Hockey.

He is a member of the St. Peter’s Eastern Orthodox Church.

David and family consist of his mother, Vivian Zimmerman and four brothers, Peter, Paul (Angela), John (Christina) and Jason (Dusty) Zimmerman. In his spare time, he likes to play golf and curl in the winter.

Wayne Schempp

Funeral Assistant

Wayne Schempp joined our professional, caring staff as a funeral service assistant in 2017. He enjoys working with the Thomas Family Funeral Home staff as we help families through the time of loss.

Prior to Wayne's employment at the funeral home, he was the manager of student records at the Quentin Burdick Job Corps Center in Minot. He is a familiar face in the music scene throughout Minot, especially at First Lutheran Church where he is a member. Wayne serves on the Worship Committee, directs the Cathedral Choir, and is the leader of the Good News Band. He is a member of the Heritage Singers, Brass Band of Minot, and the Minot City Band. Wayne is a graduate of Minot State University with a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in management.

In his free time, Wayne enjoys camping, golfing, and spending time with his family on the pontoon at Lake Sakakawea. Wayne is married to Margaret and they have two adult daughters, Naomi and Carmen.

Jerry Martin

Funeral Assistant

Jerry Martin has been a funeral assistant with Thomas Family Funeral Home since 2023. He finds working at the funeral home to be a rewarding experience.

Jerry taught elementary school at Carpio School for eight years and twenty-eight years at Burlington-Des Lacs Elementary. In addition to teaching, he was employed at the Captains Cove Restaurant for twenty-eight years as a waiter.

Jerry and his wife, Karen Rath, have a large family with many children and grandchildren. They are members of Des Lacs Methodist Church where they provide their talents as musicians.

Jerry and Karen are members of the band called “The Replacements” in Minot. They enjoy entertaining all over the Minot community.

Karen Rath

Funeral Assistant

Karen Rath joined our staff in 2023. She enjoys working at Thomas Family Funeral Home, assisting families at visitations and funerals. She finds helping families to be very rewarding.

Karen previously worked at Piggly Wiggly in the bakery and deli, Fargo Glass and Glass Doctor. She retired in 2013.

Karen and her husband, Jerry Martin, have a large family including children, step-children, grandchildren and great grandchildren whom they both enjoy spending time with.

She is a member of Des Lacs Methodist Church, where she and her husband are active in the music ministry. Additionally, they play in a band called “The Replacements,” performing country and country gospel music. Karen and Jerry are familiar faces, entertaining all over the Minot area.

Zachary Ziebell

Funeral Assistant

Zachary Ziebell has been a funeral assistant with Thomas Family Funeral Home since February 2025. He finds great joy in connecting with others and considers it a privilege to support them during their times of need.

Zachary was born and raised in Wausau, Wisconsin. After spending three years in Hawaii, he now resides in Minot.

Zachary is an active-duty Air Force member.

Some of his hobbies include woodworking, stained glass, fishing, and taking his beagle named Toast on walks and hikes.

Mike Knoop

Funeral Assistant (Retired)

Michael Knoop has been a funeral assistant at Thomas Family Funeral Home since 2005.

Prior to his employment at the funeral home, he served the City of Minot as a Police Officer. He is also a veteran of the United States Navy.

Mike’s family includes his wife, Alice, two grown children, and three grandsons.

Mike enjoys serving families at the funeral home as a funeral assistant, especially the families and friends he knows.

Mike is a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Minot, the America Legion, and the Moose Lodge. He enjoys making stained glass art, painting, and motorcycling. He also is a proud fan of his grandsons’ sports teams.

Rodney Tryhus

Funeral Assistant (Retired)

Rodney Tryhus serves the families who call upon Thomas Family Funeral Home as funeral assistant. He has been employed with the funeral home since his retirement from 26 years with the City of Minot in 2015. While working for the city, Rodney served the citizens as a 911 dispatcher and heavy equipment operator.

Rodney is an ordained minister, licensed law enforcement officer in North Dakota, a certified firefighter, and scuba diver. He is a member of West Minot Church of God, Christian Motorcyclists Association, and the Blue Knights Motorcycle Club.

Rodney says he enjoys helping families and friends through their time of grief at funeral services.

Pam Hopkins

Visitation Receptionist

Pam Hopkins joined the Thomas Family Funeral Home staff as a visitation receptionist in the spring of 2017. Prior to her employment with us, Pam was the manager of the Minot State University Bookstore.

Margaret Ronnie

Visitation Receptionist

Margaret Ronnie serves families as a visitation receptionist at Thomas Family Funeral Home. She began serving in this capacity many years ago, however took some time away from the funeral home and returned in 2016.

Margaret is a retired dental assistant and was employed at Souris Valley Dental for over forty years. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time with her grandchildren. Margaret was also a Hospice volunteer for over 20 years in Minot.

Margaret is married to her husband, Richard, and they are members of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Minot. They are the parents of two children, Paul and Brenda (both deceased), grandparents of three granddaughters, and one great granddaughter.

Margaret says she hopes to bring comfort to families in times of grief. She believes her personal experiences of loss helps her understand what families are going through.

Susan Roise

Visitation Receptionist

Sue Roise started working at the Thomas Family Funeral Home in 2023. She serves families as a visitation receptionist.

Sue was previously a partner at Zaback-Roise Wealth Management, a financial services firm, for 32 years.

Sue's hobbies and interests include gardening and flowers, playing board games, and baking. She is a member of Our Redeemer's Church in Minot.

Sue is the mother of two children and grandmother to her amazing grandchildren.

Sue says of her work at Thomas Family Funeral Home that she enjoys "meeting and offering hospitality to families who are grieving."

Norma Rist

Visitation Receptionist

Norma Jean Rist has served families as a visitation receptionist at Thomas Family Funeral Home since November 2018. Norma enjoys visiting with people and is honored to serve people in their time of need.

Norma enjoys reading, crocheting, cooking, and spending time with her kids and grand kids. Norma is a member of Oak Valley Lutheran Church, of Velva, where she is active on various committees and the president of the Velva Senior Center.

Norma Jean has four children and 11 grandchildren and resides in Velva.

Jill Hanson

Funeral Assistant

Norma Theis

Funeral Assistant

Kristi Berg

Visitation Receptionist

Ona Gandrud

Visitation Receptionist (Retired)

Ona Gandrud began assisting families as a visitation receptionist at Thomas Family Funeral Home in the spring of 2018. She enjoys people and hopes to be of assistance to families who are experiencing grief.

Ona was previously employed as a paraprofessional in the Minot Public School District for 25 years. In her free time she enjoys being with family and friends, and attending her grandchildren’s athletic games and events.

Ona is a member of First Lutheran Church where she is involved in Circle and Bible study. She is also a member of PEO - Chapter AV and Homemakers in Minot. Ona is married to Milford and they are parents of three children and grandparents of six grandchildren.

Marlys Orluck

Visitation Receptionist (Retired)

Marlys Orluck joined the Thomas Family Funeral Home staff in 2016. She serves families as a visitation receptionist. Marlys enjoys the opportunity to care for the grieving.

Marlys was born and raised in Balfour, North Dakota and is married to Dan Orluck. Prior to her employment with the funeral home, she was employed with Westat, the organization which conducted the NAEP testing in schools, and was a substitute teacher in the Minot Public Schools. In her free time, she enjoys attending Bible studies, working on the computer, photography, and water aerobics.

Marlys is a member of First Baptist Church in Minot. She has served on numerous boards and committees throughout the community, including the Makoti Centennial Committee.

Marlys’ family includes her husband, Dan, four step children, 9 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Joylea Knutson

Visitation Receptionist (Retired)

Joylea Knutson has served families at Thomas Family Funeral Home as a visitation receptionist for over twenty years. Additionally, she is employed as a part-time secretary at Bread of Life Lutheran Church in Minot.

Joylea enjoys reading, watching movies, volunteering in the community, and challenges herself to learn something new each day. She has served on the First Lutheran Church Council, where she and her husband are members. Joylea is an officer of the Church Women, Treasurer for Turtle Mountain Church Women, and is a respite chairman for Norsk Hostfest.

Joylea is married to Loren and they have four adult sons and one grandson.

Of her position at Thomas Family Funeral Home, Joylea says, “I enjoy people and especially listening and assisting individuals.” She finds working at the funeral home to be a very rewarding experience.

Mary Van Lith

Hairstylist

Mary Van Lith has worked as a hairstylist for Thomas Family Funeral Home since 1999. Outside of the funeral home, she is an aide for the Minot Public Schools, assisting students with special needs on school busses.

Mary is a member of the Women of the Moose, a lifetime member of the Minot Rifle and Pistol Club, and volunteers at the Ward County Jail. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, camping, fishing, and spending time outdoors gardening and target shooting.

Mary married her husband, Dave, in 2012. She has two children and five grandchildren.

Mary enjoys working in association with Thomas Family Funeral Home because, “The Thomas family is a wonderful family and they and their staff are caring and compassionate people.”