‘We’re all still in shock’: Family at a loss after Lincoln woman dies in fire

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – After a Lincoln woman tragically died in a house fire, her family is trying to cope.

Rose Swanson, 66, was a loving mother of four daughters.

She died in a fire at her northwest Lincoln home around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

A Lincoln Fire & Rescue spokeswoman said Swanson was smoking while using an oxygen tank, which sparked the fire.

SEE MORE: Deadly northwest Lincoln trailer home fire deemed accidental, LFR says

“It’s been very stressful trying to find answers and come up with what the next plan is,” said Holly Sawyer, Swanson’s oldest daughter. “Just trying to pick up the pieces from all of this.”

Her children said she always liked to take photos of them, but she wasn’t a big fan of being in the picture herself.

They now treasure the memories captured on camera.

Swanson also saved many things from her kids’ childhood.

In the past year, her family said she was often sick.

But her daughter Michelle Wade said she never thought they would lose her in this way.

“We expected, maybe, that she wouldn’t be here for much longer,” Wade said. “Just not necessarily in the way that it happened.”

Swanson and her husband lived in the home along with six cats.

Five were rescued, but the sixth had to be euthanized because of smoke inhalation.

The home was destroyed. LFR valued the loss of the home and its contents at about $125,000.

“We’re all still in shock,” Sawyer said. “My stepdad is still very much shell-shocked from all of this.”

The daughters started a GoFundMe page to help their stepfather get back on his feet, as he didn’t have homeowner’s insurance or life insurance to fall back on.

“All kinds of expenses were just piling up,” Sawyer said.

Wade said they’ve already seen a tremendous amount of support.

“You don’t really consider all the expenses when someone passes away, especially in a violent way like that,” she said. “None of us were really prepared for that kind of expense up front.”

Swanson’s daughters plan to hold a service for her in July with all of her family and loved ones.