BEATRICE, NE — Next to his family, Bryce Niss’s cattle were his pride and joy.

“That’s really what he worked hard at," father-in-law Jeff Broady said. "He worked hard at everything. (He was a) wonderful father, wonderful son in law.”

His love for family and farm was well-known in the Pawnee City area. So after his death in a November grain truck accident, neighbors finished his harvest. Now on Tuesday, they lined up 30 stock trailers deep to deliver his cattle to Beatrice 77 Livestock for an estate auction.

Father-in-law Jeff Broady says he’s not surprised by the substantial support.

“That’s just what rural America does, they pull together and help their neighbor,” Broady said.

It’s exactly what Bryce would have done for someone else.

“His kids and his family were very important," Broady said. "If you asked for help, he would be one of the first ones there to help you out.”

Bryce’s 225 cows and 10 bulls will be auctioned on Thursday. Money collected from the auction of a donated heifer, a model barn and free-will donations will go to a an education fund for his three kids, Weston, Reid and Lila.

For the family, it’s another step towards closure.

“It’s been hard. The emotions… I don’t know how to put it into words," Broady said. "With the love of family and the community, we’re getting through it.”

Friends and relatives set up a Go Fund Me page to benefit Bryce's wife, Dani, and their family.