Frank Charles Lautenschlager, Hot Springs, passed away May 20, 2012 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. The son of Charles and Elsie (Schroeder) Lautenschlager, Frank was born August 3, 1925 in Chicago, IL and moved with his parents to South Dakota in 1937. During WWII, Frank served in the South Pacific as an Army mechanic, maintaining trucks and jeeps in an anti-aircraft battalion. By the end of the war, he was a Tech Sgt in charge of the battalion motorpool in Manila, Philippines, overseeing young Filipino soldiers learning to be mechanics. After returning to Hot Springs, Frank built a shop and began a life-long career as an auto mechanic and truck driver. In addition to owning and operating his own trucks, he was employed as a driver for Hot Springs Refining Company for over forty years. Frank married Virginia Irene Kain on Nov. 4, 1950 and was preceded in death by her on May 27, 2011. They spent most of their married life in Hot Springs where they attended the Open Bible Church for many years. He is survived by his children, Clara Thompson, Hot Springs, Barbara (Mikel) Howell of Papua, New Guinea; Ray (Donna) Lautenschlager; Betty (Patrick) Murphy, all of Rapid City; 17 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and cousin Ruth Dabbert Johnson, Clam Gulch, Alaska.