Harvest is a busy time for Montana farmers - and it's become more difficult for a family in Geraldine who recently lost the man in charge of their farm.

54-year old Clinton Fairbanks of Geraldine died of internal injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash last month near Moccasin Creek on U.S. Highway 2 near West Glacier. Now, the community of Geraldine is coming together to help the family he left behind.

The sight of 12 combines running simultaneously is pretty spectacular - but in this case bittersweet. Neighbors and friends are doing all they can to get 600 acres of wheat harvested for a family who lost so much, less than a month ago.

Karen Fairbanks, the widow of Clinton, said, "I was watching them out there cutting our wheat and at first it was like, 'Wow, this is amazing, how wonderful'. But then I just started crying, you know, because we'd rather have Clint out here. But you know, it's a double whammy."

Clintons' son Nate said, "You don't realize what a small community is about until you have something like this happen. Seven years ago, when my mom passed away, we had the same group of people coming in, doing the same thing. It's just unreal that there are enough friends and community people around that are willing to just drop their own harvest and help us get everything done - it's unreal."

And whether they're cutting wheat or making sandwiches for their compassionate and hard-working neighbors, these folks are living proof that a tight-knit community is just like one big extended family.

Nate continued, "Dad would be - he'd be tickled. He'd just be plum tickled to see everybody out here. And if it was somebody else, he'd be pulling his combine out and doing the exact same thing."

Karen choked up a little as she said, "He would've done anything for anybody, and we're all going to really, really miss him...and I just thank God - I'd rather have two years with him than none at all. He's got a great family and a great community and I'm blessed to still be here."

Using one combine, it would take 10 days to swath all that wheat - and the outpouring of time, energy, equipment, cost and emotional support isn't going unnoticed.

Son Nate said, "This community has been here since the accident...I can't thank these guys enough."

Clint's sons Nate and Jake and his brother Frank will continue run the Fairbanks' farm in the future.

The community of Geraldine is about 65 miles east-northeast of Great Falls.