South Campus - St. Catherine

St. Catherine South Campus

Located in South Fargo, SMP Health – St. Catherine South is a single-level community offering skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and long-term care services. The all-on-one-floor layout makes it easy for residents to move throughout the building, contributing to a lively, active atmosphere where neighbors run into each other, staff know everyone by name, and daily life feels genuinely social.

With a long history of serving the Fargo-Moorhead area, South Campus is known for its energy and warmth—a place that feels alive with activity, conversation, and connection. Residents aren’t just cared for here; they’re part of a community they’re proud to call home.

Who South Campus Is Ideal For

SMP Health – St. Catherine South may be the right fit for individuals who:

Value a warm, community-centered environment
Benefit from a home-like setting
Enjoy social interaction and engagement
Need short-term or long-term care support

A Unique Community Experience

Intergenerational Child Care Program

One of the defining features of SMP Health – St. Catherine South is its on-site childcare center, which creates meaningful daily interactions between children and residents.

Our Intergenerational Approach Facilitates

Joint activities between residents and children
A more positive, lively, and engaging building environment
Improved mental and physical health for both groups
Stronger relationships and greater understanding across generations

From shared activities to simple everyday moments, these connections help create a truly unique and enriching experience.

Services At South Campus

SMP Health – St. Catherine South offers a comprehensive range of care services, including:

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Life At South Campus

Life at SMP Health – St. Catherine South is centered around connection, comfort, and community.

Residents enjoy:

A welcoming, home-like environment
Meaningful daily interactions and activities
Strong relationships with staff and fellow residents
Opportunities for engagement and social connection

Our team is dedicated to creating an environment where residents feel valued, supported, and at home.

What Families Are Saying

Wanita B

Very nice place. I love that they have a daycare there for their employees! It’s so nice that they allow their daycare kids interact with the elderly!

Julie N

We have been very happy with the care my mother-in-law receives at St.Catherine South. Staff shows her so much love and she has been happy there which really makes our family feel at ease.

Hope G

We are having a good experience here. It has a small home feel with consistent staff caring for my family member.

Spiritual Care & Community

Supporting Spiritual Well-Being

As a Catholic, faith-based community, spiritual care is an important part of life at SMP Health – St. Catherine South.

Dedicated full-time Deacon providing pastoral presence and spiritual guidance
Regular worship services and spiritual programming
Access to clergy and pastoral support
Opportunities for reflection and connection

We support individuals of all faith backgrounds, ensuring spiritual care is available to those who desire it.

History of Care in South Fargo

SMP Health – St. Catherine South has served the Fargo-Moorhead community for decades, with roots dating back to 1971 when the facility originally opened as Villa Maria.

Over the years, the campus has evolved through expansion, renovation, and innovation—including the introduction of intergenerational programming and enhanced care environments.

Today, SMP Health – St. Catherine South is a 98-bed community that continues its legacy as a trusted provider of compassionate, community-centered care in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

1971

Villa Maria opened as a long-term care facility. It was built by the Vince Crary family on land provided by the Presentation Sisters, with Helen Crary serving as the facility’s first administrator. The facility was initially licensed as assisted living and later expanded to 132 beds, with 66 Medicare-certified nursing beds on the North Unit and sixty-six basic care beds on the South Unit. As community needs and licensing requirements evolved, the entire building transitioned to skilled nursing care.

1980

Villa Maria opened the first on-site Intergenerational Childcare Program in the state of North Dakota.

1984

Helen Crary retired, and the family decided to sell Villa Maria to Lutheran Hospital and Homes Society which became Banner Health after merging with Samaritan Health Systems in 1999.

1986

Villa Maria opened the first adult day program in the Fargo/Moorhead area, called “The Club Connection.”

1993

A building project began to update the facility and bring the intergenerational services together on the main floor. The Westlyn Pod, Lovely Lane, was completed in 1994. The Oaktree Pod, Oak Lane, was completed in 1996. During this renovation, Villa Maria expanded to 138 beds.

2002

Villa Maria, along with five other nursing homes in North Dakota owned and operated by Banner Health System, became part of Sisters of Mary of the Presentation Health System.

2007

Villa Maria underwent a major construction project. Improvements included the addition of a chapel (the Crary Room), new resident rooms in the Westlyn Pod (Friendship Lane), and renovations to the main entrance and dining room. A second floor was added to provide additional office space and training areas. Other updates included improvements to the beauty shop and therapy gym, along with new windows, carpeting, HVAC systems, and fire protection upgrades.

2021

SMP Health System embarked on a rebranding initiative. Villa Maria’s name was changed to SMP Health – St. Catherine South. Rosewood on Broadway, our sister facility located in North Fargo, was renamed SMP Health – St. Catherine North.

2022

As resident and family preferences shifted toward private rooms, St. Catherine South began reducing bed capacity and converting semi-private rooms to private rooms. This included a major renovation of “Memory Lane,” which was renamed “Villa Lane” and now features twenty newly renovated private rooms in honor of the facility’s history.

2026

SMP Health – St. Catherine South hosts ninety-eight beds and offers advanced care to the Fargo-Moorhead community.

Experience the SMP Health – St. Catherine South

If you’re exploring care options in South Fargo, we invite you to see what makes this community unique.

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