Deborah Frey, 64, loves her job managing elderly housing too much to even consider retirement.

The Senior Citizens of Lincoln County, her employers, love her back, as do the U.S. Department of Agriculture and her tenants. Frey was recently named Elderly Housing Site Manager of 2011 in Montana by the agricultural agency’s Rural Housing Service in Montana.

Her success managing Treasure Manor Apartments in Libby proves that caring and commitment count even more than years of experience in doing a job well. Frey said she had only taken a property management training course but had no experience when she was approached about the job. At the time, in April 2006, she was 58.

“I said, ‘I don’t know how to do this,’” she recalled.

According to a press release, Frey attended training and earned certifications above and beyond those required by the housing service to ensure tenant safety and quality living.

She thanks her mentor, Carol Lechner, a multi-housing specialist in Kalispell, for teaching her how to perform the job well. She said she even enjoys completing the federal agency’s paperwork, thanks to Lechner and the help of the Bozeman agricultural agency office.

Frey also credited her maintenance man and cleaning lady with helping her look good at her job. More than anything, she said her senior tenants, average age 78, make her job enjoyable with their pleasant dispositions and appreciation.

“They are so polite, and I like the way they take care of their apartments,” Frey said. “They have nice apartments, and they keep them spiffy and neat.”

Frey’s award was based on her care of her limited-income senior tenants, including her work applying for a low-interest loan to improve the 32-unit facility.

“It was aging,” Frey said.

At 26 years old, the facility was out of compliance with many agency regulations. She laughed that she needed therapy after a year and a half of working on the project.

Frey said she completed the application for financing online and was one of just two loans approved in Montana. The rehabilitation loan she secured was intended to bring the housing up to code for accessibility and safety. Improvements included new stoves, refrigerators, carpets, windows, siding, roofs and more.

She used Kalispell contractors who used Libby subcontractors to perform the work. Her senior tenants couldn’t be happier with the results.

“They are very happy and think they have a beautiful place to live. It was old, yellow and brown before,” Frey said. “I treated it like I would have my own house if I had the money to fix it up.”

Although she has no vacancies, Frey also has no waiting list at this time, so anyone interested in living at Treasure Manor should notify her. She said most want to stay, but a few move, such as a former tenant who went out of state with so much regret that he wrote a letter to Frey and sent a copy to federal agency.

The letter said: “I have very much enjoyed living in the apartment and love the location. God has blessed me at Treasure Manor, especially with you as a wonderful manager. Your care and concern as well as attention to so many details here make this a truly wonderful place to live for any tenant. I will consider myself fortunate to have another apartment manager who serves their tenants as diligently and kindly as you have. Thank you for making this a real home.”

Frey said that she so happy that she cried when she read what her former tenant had written. She said tenants like this make this job more satisfying than her former job as a surgical technician.

“Everybody’s awake now,” she said with a laugh. “The patients were all under anesthesia.”

Frey received a commemorative plaque in recognition of her award. She also represented Montana’s entry into a national U.S. Department of Agriculture competition.

She said she feels so lucky to have found such a satisfying career at this point in her working life.

“I’m not going to retire unless I have to,” she said. “This is a wonderful job.”

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.