'I feel the pain:' Funeral held for Humboldt radio announcer Tyler Bieber

The first funeral for the victims of a deadly Saskatchewan bus crash was held Thursday.

Tyler Bieber was killed last week when a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos hockey team was involved in a collision with a semi-trailer near Tisdale, Sask. Sixteen people who were on the bus have died and 13 were injured.

Bieber was a play-by-play radio announcer for the team and also worked as a broadcaster for 107.5 Bolt FM.

Outside the ceremony, Bieber's former neighbour rememberedhim as a good man.

"I knew him as a very soft person," said Jennifer Lawrence. "They were very, very sweet people."

As a mother, Lawrence wanted to offer her condolences to the Bieberfamily.

"I feel the pain everybody is going through," she said. "It could have happened to anybody."

Community in mourning

Meanwhile, workers at Humboldt Florist are incredibly busy. Orders have been pouring in from well-wishers around the world, hoping to make the community feel a little better.

"We have no scale for this," said florist Ruth Brinkman. "It's beyond our comprehension, really. Everyone's doing the best they can."

Even though Brinkmanknew people who died in the crash, she hasn't had much time to stop.

"You're just in the mode of trying to help the community and we just keep doing what we're doing. Our hands are busy, our hearts are heavy."

Veteran Saskatoon Blades announcer Les Lazaruksaid on Twitter Thursday that he wantsto call a Humboldt Broncos game free of charge next season in memory of Bieber.

More funerals Friday

This was Bieber's first season announcingfor the Broncos. He also covered morning news for the station.

Bieber also coached the Humboldt high school's basketball and football teams.

Funerals for players Jacob Leicht and Adam Herold will be held Friday.

Bieber's funeral was held Thursday at 10a.m. CST at Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt.