About Us
Welcome - Back to top
I am Duane Facklam, and I manage Frontier Estates. I am very excited to be part of this great facility. The cordial and caring atmosphere stems from the residents and the volunteers who share their time and energy. I enjoy seeing tenants when they move in because in just a short time many of them make new friendships and become more relaxed, at ease, and enjoy life again!
Meet the Management Board - Back to top
Betty Noel
Betty L. 
Noel, B.S.N., is the Chairman of the Abilene Housing, Inc. Board (DBA Frontier Estates) and has been on the board since 2006
She is a retired Registered Nurse and Homemaker. She was employed at Memorial Hospital for over 20 years and at Salina Regional Health Center for nine years. She earned a Family Nurse Practitioner degree and is a lifetime member of the American Nurses Association, the Kansas State Nurses Association and Dist. V.
Mrs. Noel’s involvement throughout the community ranges from being a board member on the Memorial Health System's Board of Directors, a member of the Daughters of America Revolution and serving as Past Regent, being a Member of the Dickinson County American Red Cross—Disaster Services Human Resources System, and being an active member of the Zion Brethren-in-Christ Church. Currently, she volunteers for the Area Agency on Aging, Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas, and Prescription Drug Program.
Mrs. Noel and her husband, Eldon, have four grown children and six grandchildren.
Mark Miller
Mark 
Miller is Vice President and Secretary of the Abilene Housing, Inc. Board (DBA Frontier Estates). He has been a board member since June 2004. He is very active in professional and community organizations.
Mr. Miller is the Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Health System. He retired from Military Service in 2001. He earned a Master of Health Care Administration degree in 1994 from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. In 1987, he earned a Master of Science degree in Human Service from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky and in 1981; he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Elgin Glanzer
Elgin 
Glanzer is the Treasurer of Abilene Housing, Inc. Board (DBA Frontier Estates). He has been a board member since June 2004. He is the Chief Financial Officer of Memorial Health System. He has worked in the healthcare industry since 1988. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas and a Master of Business Administration degree from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.
Mr. Glanzer is a Certified Healthcare Financial Professional, a member of the Healthcare Financial Managers Association, and has earned the designation of Fellow of Healthcare Financial Managers Association. He is a board member for the Sunflower chapter of Healthcare Financial Managers Association. He has served in numerous capacities in church leadership and currently serves as a lay leader.
John R. Zutavern
John 
R. Zutavern is a board member of the Abilene Housing, Inc. Board (DBA Frontier Estates). He has served in many leadership roles in Abilene. Mr. Zutavern has been a city commissioner and the Abilene Mayor three times. He is the Secretary for the Eisenhower Foundation Board of Directors, a past president of the League of Kansas Municipalities and a member of it’s Governing Body, the director of Kansas Health Institute, member of the First United Methodist Church, a Founding Vice President of Memorial Hospital, Volunteer Corps, and a member of the Small Cities Council of National League of Cities.
He retired as a Divisional Merchandise Manager from Duckwall-Alco Stores, Inc. in 2001 after more than 35 years with the company. Mr. Zutavern and his wife, Martha, have one grown daughter.
History and Long-Standing Traditions - Back to top
In the early 1970’s a few influential leaders in the Abilene community realized the need for low-income senior housing. The leaders began to seek a solution to this problem through a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (H.U.D.) supported program. After many years of hard work, land was acquired and a building was built primarily to serve the needs of low-income elderly people. Many tenants are subsidized by H.U.D. under “Section 8” funding. Since May 1978 when it’s doors first opened, it has served hundreds of people.
Who owns and manages it? - Back to top
Frontier Estates is owned and operated by Abilene Housing, Inc., a non-profit corporation that is managed by Memorial Health System. Funding is provided through (H.U.D.).
