Sutton resident Lula “Lu” Rosella (Rachow) Calkins, 85, passed away Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Sutton Community Home in Sutton.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Friday, April 17, 2026, at the Federated Church in Sutton with Pastor Edison Toe officiating. Interment will follow at the Sutton Cemetery in Sutton. Visitation will be Thursday, from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Sutton Federated Church or the Sutton Community Home Foundation. Condolences may be left at www. suttonmemorial.com.

Lula was born to Fred and Rosella (Dondlinger) Rachow on May 23, 1940, on a farm near Shickley.

Lu was raised on a farm in Clay County and went to country school through the sixth grade. She then started going to Sutton Public Schools and graduated in 1957.

Lu moved to Lincoln after graduation and started working various jobs. It was there that she met her future husband, William “Bill” Calkins, whom she married on May 22, 1958. To this union six children were born, William, Larry, Jerry “Happy”, Terrie, Sherrie, and Mary. Bill and Lu lived in Ohio for many years before moving back to Sutton.

Lu worked for many businesses and individuals waitressing, cooking, and finally having her own bookkeeping service. Lu and Bill also managed the Fox Hollow Motel for a number of years.

Fishing and camping while her children were growing up was a passion for her, along with her husband Bill. Lu was a member of the Federated Church of Sutton and the Sutton American Legion Auxiliary. Dancing was also a great passion. Many a weekends Lu and Bill were at a dance.

Her most joyful job was enjoying her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Lula is survived by her sons, William (and friend, Vena) of Royal, AK, Larry of Aberdeen, WA, and Jerry “Happy” of Sutton; daughters, Sherrie (John) Bartell of Sutton, and Mary (Greg) Kruciak of Red Cloud; sister, Lois Barker of Omaha; grandchildren, Shannon (Dillon) Abernathy of Royal, AR, Sarah Jones of Wamego, KS, Zachariah (Brenda) Roose of Wichita, KS, Tracy (Kristin) Calkins of California, Tina Calkins of Washington, Kelsey (Brent) Drake of Ord, Jeramiah Calkins (friend, Kylie) of Sutton, Maryah (Spencer) Friesen of Sutton, Makyah (Jordan) Wagoner of Saronville, Joshua (Katrena) Bartell of Eustis, Jesse (Kerri) Klein of Osceola, Teri (Jarrod) Aspegren of Sutton, Amy (Jeff) Wagnell of Salem, OR, Luke (Dacie) Kruciak of Lebanon, KS, Eliza (Josiah) Nelson of Omaha, Joanna (Luke) Swenson of Elk Point, SD, Timothy (Karlie) Kruciak of Lebanon, KS, Bethany (Jackson) Shudak of Alvo; 40 great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

Lula was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William Calkins; daughter, Terrie Calkins; sister, Lola; brother- in-law, Don Laribee; daughters-in-law, Carol Calkins and Laura Calkins; brothers-in-law, Scott Barker, and Tommy Calkins; and sister-in-law, Ruth Mills.