Family love and legacy
Luke James Lenski, doing what he loved, ranching in Montana. After Luke unexpectedly died last March, his sister Bianca wrote a children’s book, On the Ranch with Cowboy Luke which teaches about the hard work of being a cowboy––including herding, roping and mending fences.
Bianca Pierce never planned to write a children’s book, but after losing her 36-year-old brother Luke Lenski unexpectedly last March, The Canyons resident had to navigate a depth of grief she had never known. Bianca shared, “One late night in July, as I lay awake missing him, God placed the idea for this book on my heart.”
Originally, the book was meant only for Luke’s daughters, as a way for them to carry a piece of their dad. As Bianca explored the children’s book landscape, however, she realized there was a meaningful gap in stories that teach young readers about the everyday work of cowboys and ranchers. “Luke’s life as a rancher in Montana offered the perfect foundation,” she said.
Bianca was born and raised in Monument and then went to Colorado State University, majoring in health and exercise science. She moved to California for a job with Apple on their wellness team and later became a software engineer for the Apple watch, working on the workout app. “It was a dream job that I accepted two weeks before Derek and I got married.”
Derek grew up in Highlands Ranch and attended CU Boulder. The couple met in California at church, joking about their shared Colorado backgrounds and college rivalry. Derek proposed at St. Mary’s Glacier in Colorado; they married in 2018 in Castle Rock and had their reception at Cherokee Ranch & Castle.
Bianca and Derek made their way back to Colorado in 2023 to be near family, which she shared “is a blessing.” Bianca stated, “My husband is my hero,” adding that Derek has been incredibly supportive through the grieving process and also through the full-time job of creating the book, all while raising their young children.
Bianca kept the creative process a secret from her family, except for Luke’s wife. Bianca surprised the entire family on Luke’s birthday two months ago, December 15, with the completed book, On the Ranch with Cowboy Luke. Beyond inspiring little kids who want to be cowboys and cowgirls, she hopes the book inspires readers to follow their passion, as Luke did.
Bianca exclaimed, “With the support of an incredible illustrator and designer, this story has become a reality. Each page is inspired by Luke’s work on the ranch and the qualities he embodied—humor, integrity, deep faith and unwavering hard work.” She added that her book is a tribute to Luke and his legacy. “Luke’s ride isn’t ending; it is just beginning.”
Visit CowboyLukeBook.com for more information about Luke, how to order the book and free coloring pages.
In 2015 Luke taught Bianca how to fish in Montana.
