History

Some of Hospice of the Red River Valley’s early visionaries: L to R: Marily Geron, Art Johnson, Joy Query and Edie Lohr

In 1981 a small group of visionaries understood the value of providing end-of-life care to patients and their families, where and when they needed it. From that vision, we have responded to the needs of dying and grieving people by expanding into areas where we’ve been invited and staying where we are needed – serving more than 27,000 individuals and their families.

The values embraced by the early dreamers and believers—respect for the dignity of people, belief in the quality of life, a willingness to serve and a commitment to caring – have sustained the organization and provided direction for the future.

Timeline
1978

The first meeting of the board of directors of Hospice of the Red River Valley (HRRV) is held.

1981

The first patient is served.

1983

HRRV becomes the first hospice west of the Mississippi River to be Medicare certified.

1984

Services expand to all of Cass (N.D.) and Clay (Minnesota) counties.

1985

HRRV expands care to Traill County.

1993

HRRV and Lakes Area Hospice (Detroit Lakes, Minn.) merge. The service area expands to include Becker, Norman, Mahnomen and Ottertail counties.

1995

HRRV merges with Northland Community Hospice (Thief River Falls, Minn.). The service area expands to include Marshall, Pennington and Red Lake counties.

1996

The service area expands to include Ransom, Sargent, LaMoure and Dickey counties.

1998

HRRV opens an office in Valley City, N.D. Barnes County is added to the service area.

1999

The Thief River Falls office is sold to a medical group based in Fosston, Minn.

2000

HRRV begins a campaign to create an endowment fund for the future of the organization.

2002

The first $1 million of endowment fund is raised. The average daily census exceeds 100 patients. HRRV hires a full-time physician.

2003

Fargo Office

The Fargo office moves into a new space in the West Acres Office Park building in south Fargo. Heirlooms, a high-end resale store that provide supports for HRRV, opens in south Fargo.

2004

The average daily census increases 61 percent. HRRV begins partnering with area palliative care programs.

2005

HRRV opens an office in Grand Forks, N.D. The service area now covers 29 counties in North Dakota and Minnesota. The census for 2005 year exceeds 1,000 patients. The Legacy Society, the planned giving arm of the organization, is formed.

2007

HRRV purchases its current office building and begins renovation on additional space. The average daily census reaches 300 patients.

2009

The service area expands to cover individuals living in Thief River Falls, Minn., and the surrounding communities.

2011

Heirlooms relocates to a larger retail space in south Fargo.

2016

Heirlooms is renamed Heirlooms Thrift & Gift.

2019

House Calls launches. House Calls is primary care services provided in the homes of people who have difficulty leaving their residences for clinic appointments.

HRRV opens an office location in Bismarck, N.D.

2020

The service area expands to include Devils Lake, N.D., and north to the Canadian border to serve a total of more than 40 counties in North Dakota and Minnesota. 

2021

HRRV marks an incredible milestone: 40 years of providing comfort and care through life’s journey. Our founders and a host of volunteers first brought hospice services to our region with the belief that everyone, especially those who face end of life, deserves dignity and quality of life. They could see a better future for our community members, and they worked tirelessly to translate the idea of hospice into reality.

2022

HRRV broke ground on Heather’s House, the first free-standing hospice house in the state of North Dakota.

HRRV opens an office location in Fergus Falls, Minn.